Finland expects Russia to increase its military presence along their shared 1,300-kilometer border after the war in Ukraine ends. Major General Sami Nurmi of the Finnish Defense Forces said Russia is already making moderate infrastructure preparations near the border, including new construction and bringing in equipment, though the scale remains moderate. Satellite images show expansion of Russian military facilities near Finland, such as tents, equipment, fighter jet shelters, and a previously unused helicopter base. Finland has also completed the first 35 km of a planned 200 km fence on the border, equipped with cameras and sensors, as part of its defensive preparations. Nurmi noted it is unclear whether Russia is preparing to send more troops to Ukraine or to build up forces near Finland, but likely both are happening. Despite this, he and others, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, say there is no immediate military threat to Finland or NATO from this direction. Finland joined NATO in 2023, and the country is closely monitoring Russia’s moves, preparing for worst-case scenarios amid concerns that Moscow could shift aggression toward NATO members after the Ukraine conflict ends. NATO neighbors like Poland and the Baltic states are also strengthening their borders with Russia and Belarus in response.
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