Russia starts building Kamenka base near Finnish border

Russia has begun constructing a new military base near its border with Finland, part of a broader expansion of military infrastructure along its frontiers with NATO member states, according to satellite imagery and intelligence assessments. The base, located in Kamenka approximately 35 miles from Finnish territory, marks the first such construction in the area since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and is expected to house between 4,000 and 6,000 personnel.

Construction on the Kamenka facility began in late 2025, with aerial photographs showing cleared forest and a dozen new barracks under development. This project is one element of a multi-year buildup observed at several locations near Russia's borders with Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states. Satellite imagery from the past two years reveals significant increases in barracks, dining halls, storage facilities, aircraft, and military vehicles at these sites. One Arctic compound in Pechenga is situated just five miles from the Norwegian border, while intelligence assessments suggest the Murmansk region could now accommodate an additional 17,000 troops.

Nordic intelligence officials, speaking anonymously, have described...