Satellite Images Reveal Russia Reviving Military Base Near Finnish Border

Russia is reactivating a long-abandoned military garrison in the city of Petrozavodsk near the Finnish border, preparing the site to accommodate the newly established 44th Army Corps.

According to Yle, satellite imagery shows significant clearing activity and the arrival of military equipment on the site that was largely dormant throughout the 2000s.

The decision to reestablish the Petrozavodsk garrison follows Finland’s accession to NATO in 2023. According to Yle, Finnish military analysts believe the base will serve as a strategic hub for the 44th Army Corps, which is expected to include up to 15,000 personnel.

Currently, approximately 2,500–3,000 Russian troops are stationed in the Republic of Karelia, most of them from the Aerospace Forces. At the nearby Besovets air base, Yle reports the presence of 80 fighter jets, including Su-35S and older Su-27 models.

The region also hosts several thousand Soviet-era armored vehicles, trucks, and artillery systems in storage.

The expansion in Petrozavodsk includes the reactivation of the Rybka training area. Satellite images reviewed by Yle show construction of new barracks, a buildup of military vehicles, and development of logistical infrastructure.

The garrison will also host a radio-technical regiment, responsible for operating approximately ten radar stations.

In addition to activities in Karelia, Russia is also building a new military town in Kandalaksha, Murmansk region. Construction plans include multiple large buildings to support a new artillery and engineering brigade, which is estimated to bring an additional 2,000 troops to the Kola Peninsula—less than 150 kilometers from the Finnish border.

Regional authorities have confirmed that these projects are directly supported by the Kremlin. According to KarjelInform, the head of the Republic of Karelia, Artur Parfenchikov, stated that the arrival of troops in the area would bring young families and lead to broader civilian development.

Petrozavodsk’s mayor’s office called the expansion a “patriotic responsibility” in light of national security priorities.

Despite the military buildup near Finland, most of the 44th Army Corps remains engaged in Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to Yle, some of the newly formed ground units are still deployed in the Kharkiv region, while Petrozavodsk remains a staging and logistical area for future redeployments.

Yle also reports that in the fall of 2025, large quantities of military equipment were transferred from the Luga garrison, south of Karelia, to the front lines in Ukraine. The Luga-based motorized rifle brigade has reportedly been expanded into a full division, increasing its size to an estimated 8,000–10,000 soldiers.

Earlier in September 2025, Vladimir Putin ordered new barriers along the Finnish border, with Medvedev citing NATO expansion as the reason. Construction began near Svetogorsk following Finland’s NATO accession.

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