Get you up to speed: Putin is building a new military base just 100 miles from NATO border | News World
Russia has commenced construction on a new military base close to Finland’s eastern border, marking the first such development since the dissolution of the USSR. The base, under construction in Kamenka, is expected to accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 personnel, raising security concerns for Finland.
Construction of the new military base began in late 2025, with a capacity to accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 personnel. Finland has reinforced its border with a 10-foot fence topped with barbed wire amid ongoing concerns about increased military activities and hybrid warfare tactics from Russia.
Finland’s government remains cautious regarding Russian military developments near its border, with Joel Linnainmäki from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs noting ongoing vigilance against Russian movements. In response to perceived threats, Finland has reinforced border security, including the construction of a 10-foot barbed wire fence and the establishment of a new NATO forward command centre in Lapland.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how long the construction of the military base will take and what specific capabilities it will ultimately have. But it is designed to combat NATO’s intrusion.
Russia begins construction of military base near Finland’s eastern border
Satellite images show the area where trees have been cleared for the construction (Picture: Pravda)
Russia has begun construction on a new military base eerily close to Finland’s eastern border for the first time since the USSR collapsed.
New aerial photos show a dozen new barracks under construction after work began in late 2025 to clear forest nearby.
The base could accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 personnel, military expert and former Finnish intelligence officer Marko Eklund found.
The new base and the installation of troops there could pose a security issue for Finland, which shares an 830-mile border with Russia.
Elkund stressed, however: ‘You cannot build a modern armed forces with rusty tanks from Siberian training grounds, so this will require considerable time and money.’
WTX ventured to the country’s Russian border last summer after the Finnish government closed the eastern side of it following attempts by Russia to send an influx of ‘refugees’ into the country.
Photos show new barracks under construction (Picture: Pravda)
Joel Linnainmäki, a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told us at the time that there had been little to report since the border closed – but added that the Finnish government is still wary of Russian movement nearby.
In Kamenka, around 35 miles from Finnish territory, some 130 installations capable of housing 2,000 troops were set up last year.
Finland has erected a 10-foot fence, topped with barbed wire, to line a large portion of its border with Russia and stop illegal crossings.
Satellite images in the past two years have shown a significant increase in barracks, aircraft and other infrastructure at four locations near the frontier, which would be a major staging ground for a potential Russian attack on NATO.
Slowly, Russia is re-establishing the Leningrad military district for defensive capabilities – likely in hopes of using it for an offensive if it has the ability to do so in the future.
Russia has been beefing up its military presence after Sweden and Finland joined NATO years ago 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.
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’.
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