New satellite images analysed by Finnish broadcaster Yle have revealed extensive construction work in Russia’s closed military town of Lupche-Savino, close to the border with Finnish Lapland. The developments indicate a long-term effort by Russia to strengthen its military presence near Finland.
New garrison for artillery and engineer brigades
According to the Murmansk regional administration, the Lupche-Savino garrison—part of the town of Kandalaksha—is being expanded to host a new artillery brigade and elements of an engineer brigade. Satellite imagery shows major excavation, the construction of several new buildings over the past winter, and the clearing of 1.4 kilometres of forested land. The site, known locally as Lupche-Savino-2, was previously used for storage by engineering units after serving as an air defence base until the early 2000s.
Plans for the area include new barracks, ammunition depots, a fuel storage facility, a headquarters building, and even a health centre. About ten more buildings are scheduled, with no visible foundations yet in the latest images.
Strategic location at Russia’s narrow corridor
Military analyst Marko Eklund, a retired Finnish intelligence officer, highlights the strategic significance of the Kandalaksha area. Situated roughly 110 kilometres from the Finnish border, Kandalaksha acts as a transport hub at the tip of the White Sea. It also forms a narrow land corridor linking the Kola Peninsula—home to Russia’s Northern Fleet of nuclear submarines—to the rest of the country.
“If this bottleneck were lost, Russia’s land connection to its northern naval assets would be cut,” Eklund told Yle.
Expansion on the Karelian Isthmus and in Karelia
The images also show military activity at Sapyornoye, a garrison on the Karelian Isthmus about 70 kilometres from Finland. Once home to limited forces, it now displays increased equipment presence, including vehicles likely used by engineer units.
These developments coincide with upgrades at Kamenka, roughly 50 kilometres southwest, where a motorised infantry brigade is being turned into a division. Eklund notes that Sapyornoye may serve as an auxiliary garrison to accommodate rising troop numbers.
Meanwhile, in the Republic of Karelia, Russia is setting up the new 44th Army Corps, expected to bring 15,000 additional soldiers close to the Finnish border. Much of its equipment is drawn from the Petrozavodsk depot, which has seen renewed activity, with more vehicles arriving and a fourth storage hall completed.
Russia links build-up to NATO expansion
Russia’s officials justify these deployments by pointing to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. The country recently re-established the Leningrad Military District, and is upgrading several brigades into divisions, effectively doubling or tripling troop numbers.
Eklund estimates that before the war in Ukraine, there were about 30,000 Russian soldiers stationed in the area now covered by the Leningrad Military District. Current plans could push this figure to nearly 100,000, alongside a multiple increase in the number of main battle tanks.
Regional implications for Finland and NATO
Experts note that while much of this infrastructure could also support Russia’s war in Ukraine, the permanent nature of new facilities and the scale of troop expansion underline Moscow’s intent to reinforce its position directly on NATO’s northeastern flank.
“The threat to Finland naturally arises through politics,” Eklund said. “But if force is built up on the Finnish border, then it’s that much closer.”
