Russia Reactivates Petrozavodsk Military Garrison Near Finnish Border for 44th Army Corps

Reactivation of Petrozavodsk Garrison Confirmed

Satellite imagery has revealed that the Russian Federation is reactivating a long-abandoned military garrison in Petrozavodsk, located in the Republic of Karelia, approximately 160 to 175 kilometers from the Finnish border. This strategic move is intended to accommodate the newly established 44th Army Corps.

Images from 2024-2025 show substantial clearing activity, the construction of new barracks, and a noticeable buildup of military vehicles and logistical infrastructure at the site, which had been largely dormant throughout the 2000s. The expansion also includes the reactivation of the Rybka training area and plans for the garrison to host a radio-technical regiment.

The Newly Formed 44th Army Corps

The 44th Army Corps was officially created in 2024 within the Leningrad Military District. Finnish military analysts anticipate that this corps will comprise up to 15,000 personnel and serve as a strategic hub. Its core units, including the 72nd Motor Rifle Division and the 128th Motor Rifle Brigade, were established between autumn 2023 and spring 2024, primarily utilizing newly recruited contract soldiers.

Despite its planned deployment in the direction of Finland, much of the 44th Army Corps has been actively engaged in the conflict in Ukraine. It participated in the Northern Kharkiv offensive in May 2024, the Kursk offensive in spring 2025, and the Battle of Vovchansk in December 2025. Currently, Petrozavodsk functions as a staging and logistical area for future redeployments of these forces.

Broader Military Buildup and Context

The reactivation of the Petrozavodsk garrison is part of a broader pattern of Russian military expansion near its border with Finland, a development that follows Finland's accession to NATO in 2023. This buildup includes the construction of new military infrastructure in various locations.

• In Kandalaksha, Murmansk region, a new military town is being built approximately 150 kilometers from the Finnish border.
• New warehouses capable of storing dozens of armored vehicles have appeared in Petrozavodsk.
• Kamenka, located just 60 kilometers from the Finnish border, has seen the deployment of over 130 troop tents, capable of housing up to 2,000 soldiers.
• Soviet-era airbases such as Severomorsk-2 and Olenya have also been reactivated.

Western military and intelligence officials suggest that these efforts could be in preparation for a potential confrontation with NATO, with the new headquarters in Petrozavodsk potentially commanding tens of thousands of troops. In response, Finland has been strengthening its border with electronic defenses and barbed wire fences.