The Daily Populous Monday May 12nd, 2025 evening edition
Authored by helsinkitimes.fi and submitted by Durian881

The images, obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT from Planet Labs, show activity at four locations: Kamenka on the Karelian Isthmus, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya.

Satellite images have revealed significant new Russian military activity near Finland’s eastern border , with analysts citing increased troop accommodation, aircraft deployment, and infrastructure construction at key military bases.

The findings suggest Russia is reinforcing its military footprint in the region following Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO.

At Kamenka, just 60 kilometres from the Finnish border, over 130 military tents have been erected since February 2025. The area, previously undeveloped in 2022, now appears capable of housing up to 2,000 soldiers, according to SVT.

Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi described the changes as signs of “increasing activity” and a delayed implementation of measures promised by Russia following NATO expansion.

In Petrozavodsk, roughly 175 kilometres from the border, three large storage halls have been constructed, each potentially able to hold around 50 armoured vehicles. A fourth facility is under construction as of April 2025. Analysts believe the new structures may be intended to conceal the number of vehicles stationed there.

North of the Arctic Circle, Severomorsk-2, a previously disused airbase, is being renovated. Satellite imagery shows multiple helicopters now parked at the base. Analysts suggest the goal is to restore the runways for fixed-wing military aircraft.

Further activity was noted at Olenya airbase, from where Russian strategic bombers are reportedly operating. According to Ukrainian sources, bombers flying from Olenya have been used in attacks on targets in Ukraine.

Sweden’s Chief of Defence Michael Claesson said the developments appear to confirm earlier Russian statements about “military-technical measures” in response to NATO’s enlargement.

“When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. We are now seeing that happen,” Claesson said.

Finland’s membership in NATO, formalised in 2023, shifted the alliance’s border directly onto Russia’s northwest flank. Since then, Finland has moved to strengthen its own defence posture, including hosting a new NATO forward command centre in Lapland, expected to be operational later this year.

Though Moscow initially gave no visible military response to NATO expansion, the satellite imagery now points to gradual preparations on the Russian side of the border.

The changes come amid ongoing Russian operations in Ukraine and sustained international scrutiny of Russia’s military posture in the Baltic and Arctic regions. Finnish and Swedish defence officials said they continue to monitor developments closely.

premature_eulogy on May 12nd, 2025 at 06:50 UTC »

Finnish person here: No mention of this on major Finnish-language news outlets, indicating this isn't massively out of the ordinary.

Worth remembering that Russia has annual conscription drives in the spring and autumn and many troops are trained near the Finnish border. This could well be a "seasonal" increase in troops but is being reported as exceptional due to the current geopolitical situation.

kaioDeLeMyo on May 12nd, 2025 at 06:49 UTC »

I don't think Russia is moronic enough to attack Finland, a NATO member.

Putin may have underestimated Ukriane, but he's not an idiot.

Potential-Delay-4487 on May 12nd, 2025 at 06:39 UTC »

I would really like it of Russia would just go and fuck off. Why can't we live in peace? All because of one fucking moron who thinks he needs to take back "Russian territory".

How are we still in a place where one guy gets to decide everything? Did history not teach us anything? Especially us Europeans.

We can send probes into space, create vaccines for all kinds of diceases. We created the internet and Artificial Intelligence. Yet we are still at war with other human beings, fighting over borders or who's god is better. People are dying. Families are ripped apart. What a fucking waste.