6 hours agoRussians flock to border, Finland adds reserve forces and orders 64 F-35 from US
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Finland, which borders the Russian giant, is on military alert. Since Ukraine's conquest prompted Helsinki to join NATO two years ago, tensions to remember the Cold War have resurfaced along the forested 1140km border, Europe's longest with Russia. The Nordic nation does [...]
Finland, which borders the Russian giant, is on military alert. Since Ukraine's conquest prompted Helsinki to join NATO two years ago, tensions to remember the Cold War have resurfaced along the forested 1140km border, Europe's longest with Russia.
The Nordic nation, Reuters suggests, is strengthening the already considerable reserve forces and will host a new command for NATO, whose members meet in The Hague 24 June for an annual summit, writes A2.
Still under construction, a stringed wire fence at the top dominated a once noisy part of the border, closed by Finland after accusing Russia of using migration as a weapon.
Russia, on the other hand, has slowly begun to clear Soviet-era military bases, show satellite images. Kiev's attack on June 1st on Russia's fleet of strategic bombers, including at Olenya Airport near northern Finland, brought the war to Ukraine closer.
Some businesses are not satisfied with the changes. Commercial centers and restaurants that were once full of Russian visitors are evidently more empty. Up to 13 million annual cross-border travel has ended, affecting persons with dual citizenship who have families in Russia.
The disappearance of Russian tourists and the lack of trade have issued at least 300m euros annually from a local economy of 5.5 billion euros, the regional council said. Unemployment rose to nearly 15% late last year, higher than the national average.
Hopes for a rapid reduction in tensions are decreasing. Helsinki believes Russia will reinforce the neighbouring military region of Leningrad once the war is over in Ukraine, President Stubb has said, although it downplays any threats from Russia so far. Behind the border, satellite images show Russia has launched several works in garrisons, including construction of new warehouses.
A senior government official, aware of Finland's military planning, described such work as small rather than a threat. Finland has long held a strong army. It has ordered 64 US-made F-35 aircraft to modernise its fleet of fighter aircraft. It has the largest artillery arsenal in Western Europe, another official said. (A2 Television) /Periscopi/
