Russia is increasing its military presence on the border with Finland, reports the "New York Times", citing an analysis of satellite imagery confirmed by NATO officials.
The images reveal new rows of tents, storage facilities for military equipment, renovated fighter shelters and construction of a helicopter base that has until now been mostly unused and overgrown. According to NATO sources, these activities are part of Moscow's long-term strategy to strengthen military capabilities near NATO's borders.
Finnish authorities estimate that it will take about five years for the Russian military presence on the border to reach a "threatening" level. However, analysts believe that the concentration of military forces in the region is part of a broader plan that is not directly related to the conflict in Ukraine since 2022.
According to the "New York Times", after the end of the active phase of the war in Ukraine, Russia is likely to redirect a significant part of its forces to regions bordering NATO, with particular attention being paid to the Arctic.