Russia is building a garrison in Kandalaksha for an artillery brigade — the first concrete sign of a permanent troop buildup near the Finnish border.
This was reported by Yle with reference to satellite images.
In the Lupche-Savino garrison, which is part of the town of Kandalaksha, major earthworks have been carried out and several new buildings constructed — just 110 kilometers from the Finnish border.
According to the Murmansk regional administration, a military compound is being built to house a new artillery brigade and its personnel. In addition, Russia also plans to station at least part of an engineering brigade at this location, the outlet writes.
Satellite images obtained by Yle also show changes at Russian military facilities on the Karelian Isthmus. New structures have been observed at the Sapyornoye garrison (Leningrad region).
Russia is also continuing military preparations in Petrozavodsk, the largest city in the Republic of Karelia.
According to the outlet, around €460 million has been allocated for the reconstruction of military compounds in the Murmansk region. Murmansk region governor Andrey Chibis stated that the construction work in the garrison is part of a project to modernize closed military settlements in 2024–2026.
The first and more urgent reason for increased military activity near Finland, the report notes, is the training of personnel and maintenance of old equipment for potential use in the war in Ukraine.
According to military expert and former Finnish intelligence officer Marko Eklund, the scale of the construction project indicates that Russia feels the need to strengthen its forces in this northern region — the second reason for the military expansion.
“If the sole purpose were to send troops to Ukraine, then, of course, such infrastructure wouldn't be necessary there,” noted the expert, who analyzed the satellite images for Yle.
