Russia is enhancing its military facilities close to the Finnish border, a development that NATO officials are characterizing as the initial phase of a prolonged military expansion, as reported by The New York Times on Monday.

This construction effort follows Russia’s declaration of plans to expand its armed forces and establish new military units in reaction to Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO, which came after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to satellite imagery, Russian helicopters have been spotted at a base near Murmansk, a significant location where they haven’t been seen in two decades. This base is situated approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the borders of Finland and Norway.

At Olenya air base near Olenogorsk, to the south of Murmansk, satellite images indicate a notable surge in military aircraft. This base is home to Russian long-range Tu-22 bombers.

To the south in Alakurtti, located around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Finland, new structures have emerged which are believed to accommodate numerous military vehicles. Similar construction activity has also been observed in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia.

Last year, over 130 troop tents were established at a renovated Cold War-era facility in Kamenka, situated in northwestern Russia’s Leningrad region, roughly 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the Finnish frontier.

Finland, which now possesses the longest NATO border with Russia, closed its land border crossings with Russia in December 2023 due to a reported increase in asylum seekers, which Helsinki attributes to actions by the Kremlin.

Finnish defense officials express concerns that Russia could potentially triple its troop presence near their shared border within five years if hostilities in Ukraine diminish.

“The growth of military capabilities in our nearby regions is anticipated once the conflict in Ukraine settles down,” stated Janne Kuusela, policy director at the Finnish Defense Ministry, in comments to The New York Times.