Russia's military build-up near NATO borders: 'Next 3 years are most dangerous'

The next three years represent the most perilous period as Russia significantly expands its military infrastructure near NATO countries, according to a joint investigation by Scandinavian and Baltic media outlets. The study, which collaborated with experts and analyzed satellite imagery of Russian activities in the region, indicates the construction and expansion of multiple military sites.

One of the largest projects involves the expansion of a military base in Pechenga, located in Russia's far north along the border with Finland and Norway. Russia's Ministry of Defense plans to transform the existing unit there into a division, increasing troop numbers from approximately 4,000 to 10,000. Satellite images reveal that one square kilometer of forest has been cleared for this purpose, with over 50 objects currently under construction.

Furthermore, Russia is establishing a new military base near the city of Kandalaksha, reportedly intended to house an artillery brigade and engineering brigade units, totaling around 2,000 soldiers. A third major construction site is observed in Novaya Vilza, near Petrozavodsk, an area that has not had military personnel stationed there for decades. "Currently, in the regions bordering Finland, we see that Russia is expanding its infrastructure to be able to deploy more troops," stated Matti Pesu, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), to "Welt am Sonntag."

Overall, experts cited in the report believe Russia aims to deploy up to 115,000 troops in the region, a number comparable to the Cold War era. This build-up is seen as part of a broader restructuring of the armed forces for the post-Ukraine war period. Some observers interpret these actions as preparation for a large-scale conventional war. "We do not think they are deployed there just for demonstration. The point is that in the future, it will be possible to resist NATO in the event of a large-scale conflict," said Swedish intelligence chief Thomas Nilsson. Nilsson and other experts consider the coming three years "absolutely the most dangerous" because European NATO defense capabilities are still in development.