Western Officials Alarmed by Russia’s Growing Military Presence Near Finnish Border

European officials are increasingly concerned that while efforts continue to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, Moscow is quietly intensifying its military buildup along other parts of its border with Europe. Recent activity near Petrozavodsk – about 150 kilometers east of the Finnish border – highlights these growing concerns. 

The Gaze reports on this with reference to the Wall Street Journal.

Russian military engineers are expanding bases in the region, where the Kremlin plans to establish a new army headquarters capable of commanding tens of thousands of troops over the coming years.

Western military and intelligence sources report that many of the soldiers earmarked for deployment there are currently engaged on the Ukrainian frontlines. In the long term, they are expected to form the core of a revamped Russian force geared toward confronting NATO. In parallel, Moscow is boosting military recruitment, ramping up arms production, and upgrading rail infrastructure in its border regions.

Railway expansions are also underway along Russia’s borders with Finland and Norway, and southward toward the Estonian frontier from St. Petersburg. Finnish experts are closely monitoring where these new rail lines lead.  

European defense officials note that Russia’s defense industry is now operating at full capacity, with weapons manufacturers expanding production lines. Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia was producing approximately 40 T-90M main battle tanks per year; that figure has now surged to nearly 300 annually, according to Western intelligence assessments. 

One European intelligence officer warned that Russia might attempt to test NATO's unity by launching an incursion into a small alliance member state, such as Estonia, where a significant Russian-speaking population resides.

Russia’s ability to challenge NATO will partly depend on its success in rebuilding military strength after the heavy losses suffered in Ukraine. The war has significantly depleted Russia’s officer corps but has also provided valuable battlefield experience in precision warfare.

As The Gaze reported earlier, The Baltic states have launched a joint 10-year initiative to fortify roughly 600 miles of their eastern borders.