Latest news with #MichaelClaesson
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After Ukraine, is Finland next? Reports say Russia is amassing troops and building infrastructure on the border of Finland
What do the new satellite images show along the Finland-Russia border? At Kamenka, just 35 miles from Finland, more than 130 military tents have been set up since February. These tents are believed to house up to 2,000 troops, a location that previously showed little to no infrastructure in 2022. In Petrozavodsk, roughly 100 miles from the border, three large storage warehouses have been constructed. Experts believe these are meant for armoured vehicles, potentially holding around 50 units, with a fourth hall under construction. Severomorsk-2, an airfield 110 miles from Finland and 70 miles from Norway, has also been reactivated after being previously closed. Helicopters are now visible along the runway in the latest satellite photos. At the Olenya airbase, just 90 miles from Finland, Russia has already stationed long-range bombers that Kyiv says are being used in raids on Ukrainian targets. Is this build-up linked to Finland joining NATO? Live Events How is NATO responding to Russia's military activity? Could this lead to another full-scale war like Ukraine? Why does this matter now more than ever? FAQs: (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Russia's recent troop build-up along the Finnish border has raised serious alarms in NATO capitals, drawing stark comparisons to the early signs of the Ukraine invasion. Satellite images, troop tents, refurbished airbases, and new military warehouses are painting a picture that many in Europe hoped they wouldn't see activity comes just a year after Finland officially joined NATO on April 4, 2023, extending the alliance's shared border with Russia by over 800 miles — a move that angered the Kremlin. Now, experts and officials are warning that Russia's response is no longer just to Swedish broadcaster SVT, new satellite images from Planet Labs show significant Russian military activity at four key sites: Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and This rapid military expansion closely follows Finland's NATO membership. When Finland and Sweden first applied to join the alliance, Russian officials warned of a 'military-technical response.' What we're seeing now appears to be exactly Chief of Defence Michael Claesson told SVT, 'When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. We are now seeing that happen.'The concern is not just symbolic. In December 2023, Russia re-established the Leningrad Military District, an old Soviet-era command structure near Finland. This restructuring is widely seen as preparation for maintaining a stronger military footprint along the Finnish has increased exercises and deployments in the region. One key operation, Exercise Lightning Strike, took place in November 2024 in Finland and involved multinational artillery teams, including Sweden. Heavy weapons like the MLRS M270 A2 and Archer self-propelled howitzers were used in the drills to showcase NATO's Deputy Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen, recently warned that Russia is 'deliberately testing NATO's unity'. He stated that hybrid warfare tactics like cyberattacks and mass migration are already being used, and the military build-up is just the next added, 'There were about 20,000 Russian soldiers and four standby brigades near our border before. Now they're building new infrastructure. We believe they are planning for up to five divisions, plus an army corps and support units.'That's the growing fear. The pattern is eerily similar. Back in November 2021, U.S. officials raised alarms about satellite images showing Russian forces massing near Ukraine. The Kremlin dismissed those warnings at the time. Just four months later, Putin invaded forward to now — the playbook appears insists it doesn't plan to attack. Putin himself has called the idea of attacking NATO members 'complete nonsense'. But other top Russian officials, like Dmitry Medvedev, have made thinly veiled nuclear threats, saying NATO's new members are now 'targets for retaliatory or even pre-emptive strikes'.Russia's former Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, also warned in May that the West's actions could trigger 'World War Three', especially if troops are deployed in move to join NATO was historic. For decades, it stayed neutral during the Cold War. Now, its inclusion in NATO has created a new front line. And Moscow isn't just watching — it's this ends in another large-scale war remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Russia's military build-up near Finland is real, strategic, and SVT's reporting shows, the tents, hangars, and airfields aren't just for show. NATO and its allies will now have to decide how to respond — not just with words, but with real is reacting to Finland joining NATO by expanding troops and infrastructure near the images show new troop camps, airbase refurbishments, and armored vehicle warehouses near Finland.
Metro
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Satellite images reveal scale of Russian troop build-up along Finland's border
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. More Trending 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'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Spy gang working for Putin out of a dingy seaside hotel jailed for 50 years MORE: Lonely Planet co-founder reveals four places he'll never visit again – including 'wonderful' holiday hotspot MORE: Truth behind President Macron 'cocaine' video revealed
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Why is Putin massing troops on the border of Finland? Military build-up similar to the prelude to Ukraine war sparks alarm in NATO
Satellite images have revealed how Moscow is bulking up its military presence on the Finnish border - in a chilling echo of pictures taken of Russian bases before Putin launched his war in Ukraine. Moscow is building troop accommodation, aircraft deployment infrastructure and other facilities at key military bases, analysts have said, in a sign it is seeking to reinforce its capabilities in the border region. The pictures, which were obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT from Planet Labs, suggest there has been activity at four locations inside Russia - Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya. In Kamenka, which is around 35 miles from the Finnish border and was previously undeveloped, more than 130 military tents capable of housing 2,000 troops are said to have been set up since February. Kremlin officials hit back at Finland and Sweden 's recent accession to NATO with a vague threat of 'military-technical response measures' - which now appear to be well underway. 'When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. We are now seeing that happen,' Sweden's Chief of Defence Michael Claesson said. In November 2021, US officials expressed concern over satellite images showing Russian troops massing on the border with Ukraine - a claim the Kremlin dismissed as unfounded. Less than four months later, Putin launched his full-scale war on Ukraine. Moscow has accused NATO of acting as an aggressor rather than a defensive alliance, and has repeatedly vowed to defend itself by any means, using GPS jamming and other methods. Finland's accession to NATO on April 4, 2023, which extended the alliance's border with Russia by over 800 miles, provoked fury in Moscow, with analysts saying Russia began increasing its capabilities on its western border in response. 'This is a sign of increasing activity,' Finnish military analyst Emil Kastehelmi, who is following the developments, told SVT. In Petrozavodsk, around 100 miles from the Finnish border, three large warehouses have been built which experts suggest are storage halls for armoured vehicles. The existing halls would be able to fit around 50, with another under construction, according to the latest images from late April. Further north in Olenya, Russian bombers are stationed which have been carrying out raids on targets in Ukraine, according to Kyiv. Last month, Finland's Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen expressed concerns over Russia's actions on the border, stating that the Kremlin is 'deliberately testing NATO's unity' to see if it will trigger Article 5 - the alliance's collective defence clause. Speaking to German newspaper Welt, Virtanen said Russia has been testing Article 5 with hybrid war tactics including cyberattacks and mass cross-border migration, and is now erecting new equipment to station Russian troops along its border. 'During the war there were about 20,000 soldiers stationed and about four standby brigades, now we see that Russia is building new infrastructure and as soon as they can, more troops in this region,' Virtanen warned. The army chief explained that they are reorganising themselves from the brigades and there would likely be around four to five divisions, an army corps, and a supporting unit. Satellite images from 2021 appear to show the presence of a large ground forces deployment on the northern edge of the town of Yelnya, in Russia, near the Ukrainian border 'So there will be more troops there in the future than before the Ukraine war,' he added, while reassuring that Finland has been ready to defend its allies for decades. In response to Finland's NATO membership, Putin announced the establishment of the 'Leningrad Military District' near the Finnish border and the deployment of additional military units to the area. But the Russian dictator has repeatedly dismissed concerns over a potential attack on NATO members as 'complete nonsense', asserting that Russia has no interest in engaging in conflict with the alliance. When Washington highlighted a military build-up across Ukraine's border in 2021, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphatically dismissed the reports, saying there was no need to 'waste time' on 'low-quality' claims.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Russian troops at Finland border? New satellite images reveal ‘increasing activity' in key NATO sites
New satellite images have revealed significant Russian military activity near Finland's eastern border as Moscow and Kyiv discuss a potential ceasefire. The photos, obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT from Planet Labs, have caused concerns, with analysts warning about the 'increased activity'. According to Helsinki Times, visuals show troop accommodation, aircraft deployment, and construction. The SVT report adds that satellite images show helicopters, a new tent camp and bombers. Neither Finland nor Russian officials have issued a statement reacting to the report. The publication adds that the Russian activity is mainly in four locations - Kamenka on the Karelian Isthmus, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya. At Kamenka, which is 60 kilometers from the Finnish border, over 130 military tents have been erected since February 2025, the Helsinki Times reports. According to SVT, the area appears capable of housing up to 2000 soldiers. About 175 kilometers east of the border, Russia has built three storage halls, which can accommodate 50 armored vehicles, SVT states. Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi told the publisher that the activity are a part of Russia's promised measures following NATO expansion. Finland joined NATO in April 2023. According to the report, Sweden's Chief of Defence, Michael Claesson, said the activity confirms Russia's plans about 'military-technical measures'. 'When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. We are now seeing that happen,' Claesson said. This comes as Poland accused Russian intelligence services on Sunday of orchestrating a fire that destroyed a large shopping centre last year in the capital of Warsaw. In May 2024, a fire destroyed a large shopping centre in Warsaw. "We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by the Russian special services," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X.
