Putin amassing troops at Finnish border

New satellite images suggest that Russian forces are amassing near the border with Finland, fueling concerns that a conflict with NATO may be approaching.

The images, obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT, show a growing number of Russian soldiers positioned around military installations in Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya.

Last week, several Western officials reported that Vladimir Putin had ordered tanks and artillery to be moved toward the Finnish border. Finland officially joined NATO in 2023, significantly altering the strategic landscape in the region.

At the Kamenka base, located less than 60 kilometers from the Finnish border, more than 130 tents capable of housing up to 2,000 troops have reportedly been erected.

Speaking to German newspaper Welt last month, Finnish Lieutenant Vesa Virtanen warned: “Russia has been testing Article 5 [NATO’s collective defense clause] constantly—through mass migration, cyberattacks, GPS jamming, and disinformation campaigns.”

“During the war, there were about 20,000 soldiers stationed and around four standby brigades. Now we’re seeing new infrastructure being built, and once complete, more troops will be deployed in the region. So in the future, there will be more Russian soldiers here than before the war in Ukraine,” he said.

Should Russia invade Finland, NATO member states would be obligated to provide military assistance under Article 5 of the alliance's founding treaty.

(QG - Source: The Daily Express — Picture : © Unsplash)