Russia has begun construction of its first completely new military base near Petrozavodsk, close to Finland’s eastern border.
This was reported by Yle, citing military expert and former Finnish intelligence officer Marko Eklund.
According to expert estimates, the new base in Novaya Vilga, located a few kilometers from Petrozavodsk, will be able to accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 Russian service members.
Construction of the military complex reportedly began in the spring and is progressing rapidly.
Around a dozen large barracks buildings are already under construction. The scale of the project is particularly striking given that previous military-related work in Petrozavodsk had been limited to renovating existing facilities.
Eklund identified the exact location of the construction site using a Russian document concerning the connection of the future military town to Petrozavodsk’s water supply and sewage systems. The cost of the utility connection work was estimated at nearly €5.9 million.
According to the publication, these construction activities became public knowledge in Russia only a week ago, when Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Fradkov conducted an inspection visit to the site. Russian authorities state that more than 50 facilities will be built there, including barracks, apartment buildings for military families, and sports facilities.
The base is being built close to Petrozavodsk because attracting contract soldiers and their families to more remote areas would be more difficult.
The future garrison is surrounded by dense forest, providing room for further expansion, while training grounds are located near the barracks.
The construction of military facilities in Karelia is described as only one element of a broader Russian military buildup along the entire NATO border.
“The number of combat ground forces (of the Russian Federation near Finland’s border) is indeed increasing significantly,” Eklund noted.
