Vladimir Putin is expanding dozens of military bases along Russia’s borders with Nato countries in a major build-up that has raised fresh fears over the Kremlin’s long-term ambitions in Europe.
Satellite images released by Denmark’s national broadcaster in cooperation with intelligence services show a flurry of construction work over the past two years, including new barracks, warehouses and military vehicles.
One Arctic compound in Pechenga lies just five miles from the Norwegian border.
Intelligence assessments suggest Russia’s Murmansk region, near Finland and Norway, could now accommodate up to 17,000 additional troops within striking distance of neighbouring countries.
Another military site near the Estonian border has also amassed significant numbers of vehicles, according to the images.
The expansion comes amid wider concerns over Russia’s growing hostility towards the Western alliance, with The Telegraph reporting that the Ministry of Defence has warned Downing Street that Russian aggression towards Nato is now at record levels.
The newspaper said Russian jets and drones violated Nato airspace more last month than at any other point this year, while the total number of incidents in 2026 has already surpassed the whole of 2025.
Satellite images released by Denmark’s national broadcaster in cooperation with intelligence services show a flurry of construction work over the past two years, including new barracks, warehouses and military vehicles. Pictured: Russian military build-up at Luga, Russia
Vladimir Putin is expanding dozens of military bases along Russia’s borders with Nato countries in a major build-up that has raised fresh fears over the Kremlin’s long-term ambitions in Europe
Former Army officer Colonel Richard Kemp told The Sun that while a Russian attack on Nato was not inevitable, it could not be ruled out.
‘Nevertheless that possibility can’t be excluded as Putin is a master of the unexpected,’ he said. ‘What is most concerning is that neither the UK nor our European allies are ready.’
Kemp added: ‘The reality is that we should be ready now and always to face all threats that might come our way.’
The warning came as Defence Secretary John Healey announced his resignation, saying Britain’s armed forces were not sufficiently prepared to meet the growing threats facing the country.
Kemp also pointed to Healey’s resignation letter in which he said our intelligence assessed that Russia might attack as soon as 2030.
Former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram told The Sun the expansion was part of a longer-term Kremlin strategy.
‘The preparation of these bases is to do two things. Firstly, to respond to the expansion of NATO by suggesting a real capability to threaten NATO’s borders over a very long front.’
He said Russia was also creating the conditions to rapidly rearm and deploy forces towards Nato’s borders once the war in Ukraine eventually comes to an end.
Danish Defence Academy analyst Anders Puck Nielsen warned that Russia sees a future confrontation with Europe as increasingly likely, although the war in Ukraine remains Moscow’s immediate priority.
Satellite images show a flurry of construction work in the past two years at Pechenga, near the Norwegian border
The warning came as Defence Secretary John Healey announced his resignation, saying Britain’s armed forces were not sufficiently prepared to meet the growing threats facing the country
The concerns come as Britain prepares to unveil its Defence Investment Plan, which is expected to focus heavily on countering Russian threats at home and abroad.
Healey has pushed for greater military investment, including funding for new naval destroyers, fighter jets and armoured vehicles, amid fears existing budgets may not be enough to meet the growing threat.
The Ministry of Defence has not officially confirmed the number of Russian airspace incursions over Nato countries, although it is understood the rate of violations has increased significantly.
Recent incidents have included Russian submarines being tracked near British undersea cables in the North Atlantic, while naval incursions by Putin’s forces into British waters have increased by 30 per cent over the past two years.