Russia has begun constructing a completely new military base near the village of Nova Vilga, close to Petrozavodsk on Finland’s eastern border, marking the first such project since the Soviet era. Satellite images reveal that construction accelerated in spring 2026, quickly forming a large military settlement in the area.
The images show about a dozen large barracks buildings rising on site. In the initial phase, a headquarters building was constructed, followed by the development of a parade ground and other facilities.
The scale of construction draws attention
Previously, the region mainly saw renovations of old Soviet military facilities, but this time a new garrison is being built from the ground up. The first forest clearings were detected in November 2025, with earthworks beginning last winter.
Former Finnish intelligence officer and military expert Marco Eklund noted that the barracks buildings match typical dimensions used in Russian military settlements. According to Eklund, the buildings are 3 to 4 stories tall and approximately 65 by 24 meters in size.
Eklund assessed that the base is planned to accommodate between 4,000 and 6,000 soldiers. This force could form a motorized rifle brigade or the core elements of a newly established motorized rifle division.
Russia confirms existence of the facility
Russian authorities confirmed the construction at the end of May 2026. During an inspection by the Russian Ministry of Defense, Deputy Minister Pavel Fradkov visited the site.
According to Russian defense officials, over 50 different structures will be built on the base, including barracks, multi-apartment housing for military families, and sports facilities.
Eklund stated that Russia’s expansion of military capacity along NATO’s borders poses a potential threat to Finland. However, he emphasized that this impact will not be immediate, as infrastructure completion, equipment procurement, personnel assembly, and training must first take place.
The expert also noted that the full-scale war in Ukraine limits Russia’s ability to rapidly redeploy forces to other fronts. Nevertheless, the completion of the new base is expected to significantly increase Russian military presence in the region.
Previous activity combined with new construction
Russian military activity in the area is not new. In September 2023, satellite images showed new technical maintenance hangars being built at a military depot in Petrozavodsk and at the Alakurtti garrison near the Finland border.
In June 2025, a new artillery brigade base was established in Kandalaksha in the Murmansk region, with military engineering equipment stockpiled near the Finland border. By the end of January 2026, the abandoned Soviet garrison Rybka in Petrozavodsk was reportedly refurbished for the 44th Army Corps.
The new base at Nova Vilga stands out as one of the largest recent military infrastructure developments in the Karelia region, where military buildup has accelerated in recent times.
