Media: Russia reactivates military base close to Finnish border

Russia is reactivating a long-dormant military garrison in Petrozavodsk, near the Finnish border, in preparation for the newly formed 44th Army Corps. 

Satellite imagery reviewed by Yle shows extensive clearing work and the arrival of military equipment at the site, which had been largely inactive throughout the 2000s.

The move comes in response to Finland’s accession to NATO in 2023. Finnish military analysts cited by Yle suggest the Petrozavodsk base will serve as a strategic hub for the 44th Army Corps, projected to host up to 15,000 personnel. 

At present, around 2,500–3,000 Russian troops are stationed across the Republic of Karelia, primarily from the Aerospace Forces. The nearby Besovets air base reportedly hosts 80 fighter jets, including Su-35S models and older Su-27 aircraft, while the region also holds thousands of Soviet-era armoured vehicles, trucks, and artillery systems in storage.

The Petrozavodsk expansion involves reactivating the Rybka training area. Satellite images examined by Yle show the construction of new barracks, an accumulation of military vehicles, and the expansion of logistical facilities. The garrison is also set to host a radio-technical regiment tasked with operating roughly ten radar stations.

Beyond Karelia, Russia is constructing a new military town in Kandalaksha, Murmansk region, designed to accommodate an artillery and engineering brigade. 

Plans for the site include multiple large buildings, with the deployment expected to bring around 2,000 additional troops to the Kola Peninsula, less than 150 kilometres from the Finnish border.

By Jeyhun Aghazada