Medvedev Claims Finland Prepares War, NATO Builds Command Near Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president, has accused Finland of preparing for war against Russia following its NATO membership. He claims Finland is establishing NATO command structures and military infrastructure near the Russian border, including a corps-level land command headquarters in Mikkeli and a forward base in Ivalo, which he says are intended as a springboard for an attack on Russia. Medvedev further alleges that NATO is developing operations across all five domains—land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace—in Finland. He also renewed historic claims for reparations from Finland related to World War II, arguing that Moscow is no longer bound by the 1947 peace treaty. In response, both Finland and Russia are increasing their military fortifications along their shared border, with Russia expanding a military installation near Finland in the Murmansk region. These developments reflect heightened tensions in the region amid Finland's move to NATO in 2023 as a security measure against Russian aggression.