New satellite images show a surge in Russian military activity near the border with Finland, analysts say.
A significant increase in barracks, aircraft and other infrastructure were identified at four locations near the frontier, which would be a major staging ground for a potential Russian attack on Nato.
In Kamenka, around 35 miles from Finnish territory, some 130 installations capable of housing 2,000 troops have been set up since February, experts told Swedish broadcaster SVT.
Sweden’s Chief of Defence Michael Claesson said Russia appeared to be making good on threats to bulk up its military presence in northern Europe after Sweden and Finland joined Nato.
The two countries joined the military alliance in 2024 and 2023 respectively in response to Russian threats made following its invasion of Ukraine.
Finland’s membership extended Nato’s border with Russia by more than 800 miles.
Finland has also moved to strengthen its defences, and is currently setting up a new Nato forward command centre in Lapland.
The images were obtained by SVT from Public Labs, which has around 200 miniature satellites constantly scanning the planet.
They also show three large new warehouses in Petrozadovsk which experts say will likely be used to store up to 50 armoured vehicles.
A previously closed airbase, Severemorsk-2, now appears to be operating again, with several helicopters parked near the runway.
Finland warned that Russia has already been attacking it with ‘hybrid war’ tactics such as massive cyberattacks and ‘weaponised’ mass migration.
The Finnish government previously closed the eastern border, after accusing the Kremlin of helping around 1,300 people from Syria, Iraq and Yemen cross over it in 2023.
Russia has denied the allegations, while Putin has dismissed claims he could attack Finland as ‘total nonsense’.
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