Camilla Jessen
Satellite images reveal large-scale Russian military construction along the Finnish border.
Russia is intensifying its military buildup near the border with Finland, with new satellite imagery showing significant expansion at key garrisons and logistics hubs in the Murmansk region and beyond.
The report, published Tuesday by Finnish broadcaster Yle, highlights growing concerns in Finland and NATO over Moscow’s intentions in the region.
In Lupche-Savino, a district of the town of Kandalaksha in the Murmansk region, Russian crews have cleared land and begun construction of new buildings, transforming the site into a military garrison.
According to local officials, the complex is expected to accommodate over 2,000 troops, including a new artillery brigade and an engineering unit.
The site is part of a larger Kremlin initiative to modernize and expand Russia’s military capabilities in its northwest. The program has received at least 42 billion rubles (approximately $535 million) in federal funding.
Multiple Sites Under Expansion
The activity in Kandalaksha is not isolated. Satellite images and regional reports indicate that other sites are being reinforced:
- Sapernoye Garrison, Karelian Isthmus: New equipment, believed to be for engineering units, has arrived. It’s likely linked to expansion efforts at the nearby Kamyanka garrison, where a brigade is reportedly being upgraded to a division.
- Petrozavodsk: The region now hosts an aviation division headquarters and a newly formed railway brigade. It also serves as a storage site for equipment bound for the newly forming 44th Army Corps, which could eventually include up to 15,000 troops.
Strategic Implications
While Moscow has not officially disclosed the purpose of these upgrades, the moves fit a familiar pattern seen before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Military analysts suggest the developments represent not only a response to Finland’s recent NATO accession but also part of Russia’s broader rearmament in anticipation of long-term geopolitical confrontation with the West.
NATO officials have previously flagged increased Russian troop deployments and logistical preparations in the region.