New satellite images that Swedish television SVT received from Planet Labs show that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been intensively massing troops on the Russian-Finnish border in recent days and weeks.
That frightening move has heightened fears and tension at a time when the world is expecting possible direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul.
The footage shows the increased activity of Russian military infrastructure in Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2 and Olenya in the very northwest of Russia, along the border with NATO, which Finland joined in April 2023. More than 130 military tents that can accommodate up to 2,000 soldiers have been set up in Kamenka alone, SVT reported. Russia’s move is irresistibly reminiscent of the activities before the start of the war in Ukraine.
Russia has warned that it will introduce “military-technical measures” upon Finland’s accession to NATO, and Moscow’s latest move in Finland is interpreted as an attempt to “deliberately test the unity of NATO.” Vesa Virtanen, the country’s deputy chief of defense, told Welt that Russia is constantly testing Article 5 with its mass migrations, cyberattacks, GPS jamming and attacks in the information space.
“During the war, 20,000 soldiers and about four reserve brigades were stationed there. Now we see Russia building new infrastructure and amassing troops. In the future, there will be more troops there than before the war in Ukraine,” Virtanen said.
The Wall Street Journal reported in late April that Russia was expanding military activities along the border with Finland and was building a new military base in the city of Petrozavodsk, about 160 kilometers east of Finland, under whose command there would potentially be tens of thousands of soldiers. Western military and intelligence officials have reportedly warned that these units could form the “backbone” of Russian forces preparing to confront NATO.
