Satellite Images Show Russian Military Buildup Near Finland

Looking forward to the Finns handing them their ass again.

Nobody seems particularly alarmed by this, least of all Finland. I doubt Putin is going to go from losing a war against Ukraine to losing a war against Ukraine and Finland and the rest of NATO too. Seems like this "buildup" has been there for a while and is only growing presumably because Ukraine is getting really good at striking targets inside of Russian borders.
- It’s being reported by the “Moscow Times” so that alone makes me dubious about this even being real
- Even when Finland was "neutral", we always knew the enemy is in east, and if they were west, they were trying to flank.
  Whole Finnish infrastructure is build on expectation of Russia again attacking us. Hopefully we won't forget that, now that we are part of NATO, because it makes us less easy target.

I'm just surprised they still have equipment to build up there.

Their bases have been about where the tent villages now are for decades. They're training grounds for new conscripts until they're moved to die in some ditch in Ukraine. Who knows why they're more active now, maybe Ukraine is getting pretty good to hit their targets deep in Russia so they need to move further away from the front line or whatever.
This has absolutely nothing to do with Finland, beyond the fact that our border just happens to be nearby. And should they actually try start an active war with NATO from there, these grounds are mostly in reach of Finnish artillery and our artillery is pretty damn efficient on what they do.
- they were dumb enough to try it in the winter war.
- I somewhat vaguely remember reports from the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine and talks about Finland joining NATO, that the region around Murmansk is a somewhat problematic spot for Russia. They have a huge military presence there and it's also one of their bases equipped with atomic bombs that threaten the west/NATO. But on the other hand land based access is only possible along the long and thin stretch of land along the Finnish border in an area that presumably is hard to defend.
  
  Right, it gets into Russia's navy problem, which they've had for centuries and have never had a very good solution. Murmansk is one of the few (only?) ports they have that can reliably get ships out to the Atlantic. Black Sea ports have to go through the narrow channel at Istanbul (controlled by a NATO country, Turkey), and then you have to go through Gibraltar (England) or the Suez Canal (Egypt) (and you'd have to go around Africa if you go that way).
  St Petersburg and Kaliningrad are on the Baltic sea, which is surrounded by NATO countries now. Even before then, the narrow opening in the North Sea could be easily blockaded.
  Everything else is too far away. The sheer size of the country is both Russia's greatest defense and their biggest headache.
  See also, this Drachinifel video about the Russian Baltic Fleet during the Russian Japanese War, where the fleet traveled the long way around, nearly starts a war with England, shoots up a bunch of civilian vessels and themselves, only to be curb stomped by the fledgling Japanese navy once they finally got there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mdi_Fh9_Ag
  Yeah, Czar Nicky Two was a bad ruler. Putin has made some boneheaded decisions, but he's a political genius next to Nicky.
  I once told my wife "I love you more than Russia loves warm water ports" and they were absolutely smitten with the nerdiness. Which is why I married them.
  
  Murmansk is few hundred kilometers from Finnish border and it's been there for "a while", it's no more bigger problem now than it has ever been. And Norway border is slightly closer than ours and Norway has been a NATO country for quite a while.

Fuck putin

Finalnd is a NATO member. Russia ain't fucking with NATO
- They are "fucking with" NATO, historically, but not attack. Lots of "im not touching you im not touching you" on the borders and north sea. Military submarines where they are not supposed to be. Sudden declarations of artillery practice in international waters causing ship travel to reroute, then not actually doing practice...
  
  This needs to be said over and over - Russia is and has been at war with NATO for over a decade and NATO doesn't seem to even realize it.
- Well, we might find out soon enough.
  
  Yeah no. Even if the United States sits out on it's dumb fat orange ass, Russia is not likely looking to pick an active fight with all of Europe when it's disinformation warfare can disassemble Europe from the inside out, given enough time.
- No, but it's going to keep some resources and equipment in Finland, instead of being sent to Ukraine.
  
  this is true for both sides...
- If they do it wouldn’t be Finland anyway

So if the Russia sycophants use "NATO on their doorstep" as an excuse to forget Russia to invade ukraine wouldn't this build-up on the border of a NATO country give NATO the same excuse? I'm sorry I have trouble keeping up with the "logic" of Russia apologists.
- Russia has the world's biggest border. That's one hell of a doorstep. And it makes the bootlickers' assumption that Russia is entitled to buffer states along that entire border manifestly absurd.
- You dont have to. It is all vibe based ideology. Like all good fascist propaganda.

If they're going to attack a NATO member (humongous if), it definitely isn't going to be Finland. It's gonna be one of the Baltic states.
- I kinda hope they'd be dumb enough to get their shit kicked in by Finland AGAIN. Gonna find an entire nation of Simo Häyhä's waiting, this time with javelins and drones.
  
  Yeah they are really forgetting how badly they'll get their asses beat. Because not only do they have NATO, they have the EU, plus most of the british commonwealth, and so many more countries ready to come fuck their plans up incredibly hard.

Here we go boys! WW3! Lets watch the destruction of the world order AGAIN. I wonder which side Trump will take? The allies he hates or the autocrat he adores?
- No

With what? Motorcycles and Ladas?

How many times do we have to teach you this lesson old man!?

Finland when the Russians invade
- 卄乇ㄥㄥ　ㄚ乇卂卄　乃尺ㄖㄒ卄乇尺

Here is the article this article is using for its source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/world/europe/russia-finland-border.html
Edit: Yes, the article isn't great, and clearly has a Russian bias. I was just linking it becuase its the original, and more complete source.
- This is one of the least informed articles I've ever read. Phrases like "From Moscow’s perspective, the Russians need to bolster their defenses to protect themselves from NATO expansion" is just a cherry on top. Lmao.
  
  NATO expansion? 😂
  
  Why? That is the stance Russia has been communicating for years.
  And when countries like Germany turn around and say they want the strongest army in Europe and support the idea of spending 200 Billion yearly on defense, that is perceived as a threat.
  It is classical security dilemma.

Probably trying to keep their valuables far away from Ukrainian drones.

Finnish people love metal. I bet it helps them in battle. At least +10 attack.
- Russians storming a village with nice colorful houses. Suddenly the Deathmetal starts playing.
- Finnish Coma-Doof Warriors.

Just more money laundering by the Mob there. No actual plans to invade. they will use it as a way to cost Finland money.

The image used here and in the NYT article shows a training ground, these are temporary tents for training troops.
- I seem to remember, training exercises was what they told the initial troops that went into Ukraine was happening. So, while I really doubt they will do anything. That's really not an indicator either way for Russia.
- "A likely excuse."

Tents, shelters for fighter jets and warehouses for military vehicles show increased Russian presence near one of NATO’s newest members.
Oh no so scary, tents and shelters!
Rumours has it that the rare tank you see there is non operational too (or they would be in Ukraine waiting to be demolished).

My guess is they're stationing troops up north now that the Ukrainian war is essentially over, I don't think it'll lead to a war. If it does, Norway and Sweden (not to mention Baltic states and NATO) have a great interest in defending Finland, and are not like Ukraine
- War between Ukraine and r*ssia isn't over and not even slowing down, what are you even talking about?
- Then Russia calls china to help. China enters and starts with Taiwan. USA sits on its orange ass until late in the war (like ww1 and ww2)
  
  China isnt USA, it wouldn't enter a war halfway across the planet to destroy nations