Finland 'preparing for the worst' as Russia expands military presence near border

[h2ebits]

Head of strategy of Finnish defence forces says they are monitoring Moscow’s manoeuvring ‘very closely’
Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent
Wed 21 May 2025 14.00 EDT

Finland has said it expects Russia to further build up troops along their shared border when the war in Ukraine ends, after reports that Moscow had strengthened its military bases near the Nato frontier.

Maj Gen Sami Nurmi, the head of strategy of the Finnish defence forces, said the military is following Moscow’s manoeuvring “very closely” and that it was their job, as part of the Nato alliance, to “prepare for the worst”.

The Finnish border guard announced on Wednesday it had completed the first 35km (22 miles) of a planned 200km fence on its eastern border with Russia, which has been closed for more than a year after Helsinki accused Moscow of directing asylum seekers to Finland in a “hybrid operation”. The fence also uses cameras and sensors to distinguish between people and animals crossing.

Satellite images, published in the New York Times, appear to show an expansion of military infrastructure near the Finnish border, including rows of tents, military vehicles, renovations to fighter jet shelters and construction on a previously unused helicopter base.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/finland-expects-russia-to-build-up-troops-at-border-after-ukraine-war-ends

[Initech]

1. I called it 3 years ago!

Putin WILL NOT STOP AT UKRAINE! He is a mad man out for world domination. He should be bombed back to the stone ages and shown what the United States used to do to terrorists.

[JBTaurus83]

2. This would be

a pretty stupid move considering they can't even make progress in the war they are already in.

[Initech]

9. It's absolutely insane that there's a mad man trying to take over the world...

And the United States OVERWHELMINGLY elected the guy who's on his side and gave him one party rule. We should be bombing his ass back to the stone ages, but half of this country is so blind sided by the shiny objects on Fox that they have their heads up their asses to notice what's really going on.

[Resistance1]

3. The same MO before invading Ukraine

All the while Putin was lying by calling it an exercise. Trump has given him the green light by abandoning Zelenskyy and dividing NATO

[RJ-MacReady]

4. then NATO acts

Even without us NATO would crush any Russian incursion into Finland. And then I would support an invasion of Russia with the goal of capturing Moscow and disposing Russian leaders by force.

[DFW]

5. The Russians had trouble subduing the Finns in 1940.

Now that Finland is part of NATO, the only way they get a free ride in Finland is if Putin orders Trump to stand down. Even then, that wouldn't work for more than an hour or two, while Sweden, Norway, and then the rest of NATO (minus the USA) comes to Finland's defense. If it stretches into the winter like it did in 1940, the Finns will keep the Russians bogged down in the snow just like last time.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. A testing of balance of power and boundaries

Once the Berlin Wall and USSR fell, you had to know a new power balance would emerge and would be tested.

Over the next couple years could be a series of mini-clashes worldwide while the larger entities realize the insanity of a global war.

Civil rights retreat in an era of fascism and surveillance. AI will be profitable though.

Buckle up.

[Resistance1]

7. We have seen this movie before

When Russia was amassing troops and equipment outside Ukraine.
All the while Putin was lying by calling it an exercise. Trump has given him the green light by abandoning Zelenskyy and dividing NATO

[Torchlight]

8. I think we can see Moscow's post-Ukraine goals pretty clearly now.

I'm gobsmacked that Putin and trump simply do not realize how much they've galvanized the west against them and that there is just no long-term viability to this mess.