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Russia Reactivating Soviet-Era Bases Near Finnish Border, ISW Says
The Petrozavodsk garrison is being modernized to support up to 15,000 troops in the 44th Army Corps as a strategic hub near Finland, enhancing Russia's regional military posture.
- At Petrozavodsk, Russian forces are reactivating a long-abandoned garrison to host the 44th Army Corps, satellite images reviewed by Yle show.
- Following Finland's NATO accession in 2023, Russia created the 44th Army Corps in 2024, adding roughly 15,000 troops and supporting Kremlin-backed regional projects.
- Imagery shows about 50 vehicles and site infrastructure including fuel tanks, a technical bridge, and plans for new barracks and facilities for an artillery and engineering brigade plus a radio-technical regiment.
- Yle reports Petrozavodsk is acting as a staging and logistics hub, and most of the 44th Army Corps remains engaged in Ukraine while local construction plans could bring families, Artur Parfenchikov says.
- Analysts note a pattern of coordinated upgrades across the northwest frontier, and Finnish military intelligence warns these projects will increase Russia's military potential near Finland, with Severomorsk-2 activity reported on May 12, 2025.
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The Finns discovered that Russia was rebuilding an abandoned garrison in Petrozavodsk: EADaily
EADaily, January 31st, 2026. Russia has begun modernizing the abandoned Soviet garrison in Petrozavodsk, which may indicate plans to significantly increase its military presence in Karelia. This is reported by Yle Novosti with reference to satellite images for 2024-2025.
Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suspect that Russia is expanding military sites near the Finnish border.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left2Leaning Right5Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Right
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Right
46% Right
L 18%
C 36%
R 46%
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