Russia Expands Bases Near Finnish Border
Russia is expanding its bases in the European part of the country, primarily along the border with Finland.
The Wall Street Journal reported on this.
This is taking place approximately 160 km from the Finnish border in the city of Petrozavodsk, where the Russian military is developing army bases as part of the establishment of a new command headquarters for troops in this area.
According to European government sources and intelligence, the new military infrastructure is intended to serve as a preparation site for a new war with NATO, where the Russian soldiers who took part in the war in Ukraine will also be brought.
As the publication notes, the Russian Ministry of Defense is currently reorganizing and expanding existing units, which will allow the current brigades on the border with Finland to be restructured into divisions.
An increase in the number of troops to 10,000 is also expected in the new formations, which will primarily be concentrated in the Leningrad region, bordering Estonia, Latvia, and Finland.
Russia’s plans also include the construction of new barracks, training grounds, and the modernization of railway infrastructure to ensure reliable logistics and equipment transportation.
“Regardless of how they try to innovate at the tactical or operational level, size matters to the Russians,” said Major General Sami Nurmi, Deputy Chief of Staff of Finland.
In addition, a train carrying new Russian Malva wheeled self-propelled guns was recently spotted in the city of Petrozavodsk at coordinates 61.79680, 34.32171. Their exact destination is currently unknown.
This could indicate either a strengthening of the Russian military presence in the region or the possible production of these artillery systems near Petrozavodsk or in the Republic of Karelia.
Militarnyi previously reported that Russia was expanding its military infrastructure near the Finnish border due to the war in Ukraine.
This primarily involves the construction of a new hangar in the city of Petrozavodsk, which will be used for repairing military equipment, as well as a tent camp where Russian troops are being stationed.
There is also noticeable expansion at the training camp in Kamenka, where Russian soldiers are stationed for training before being sent to the war in Ukraine. The majority of the garrison and training area is occupied by the 138th Motorized Rifle Brigade.
