CNN
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Russia continues to expand its military bases in the Arctic despite heavy losses in the war with Ukraine, according to a new set of satellite images obtained by CNN.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an exclusive interview with CNN on Friday that there is currently “a massive buildup of Russian forces in the High North” and that recent tensions have forced the alliance to “strengthen its presence” accordingly. “We are doubling it,” he said.
The findings, a senior Western intelligence official told CNN, indicate that Russia is withdrawing three-quarters of its army from the high north region near the Arctic to step up its invasion of weakening neighbor Ukraine. dispatched to
Satellite imagery obtained by CNN from Maxar Technologies shows a series of Russian radar stations and airstrips have improved over the past year. The images do not show dramatic developments, but the continued strengthening and expansion of the region, which analysts say is critical to Russia’s defensive strategy, at a time when Russia’s resources are under heavy strain. It shows progress.
According to Maxar, the images show ongoing work at the Olenegorsk site, the Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia, and the Vorkuta radar station just north of the Arctic Circle. They also appear to indicate work is moving forward to complete his one of five Rezonans-N radar systems at Ostrovnoy, a site in the Barents Sea near Norway and Finland in western Russia. is. Rezonans-N is claimed by Russian authorities to be able to detect stealth aircraft and objects.
Three new radomes, weatherproof enclosures used to protect radar antennas, were completed this year at the Tiksi air defense site in the northeast, according to Maxar imagery and analysis. There are also runway and tarmac upgrades at Nagurskoye Air Force Base, Russia’s northernmost military facility, and runway upgrades at Tempu Air Base on Kotelny Island in northeastern Russia.
Russia has been strengthening its defenses in the Far North for years, refurbishing a series of old Soviet bases with the latest designs and equipment.
Its Arctic region has long been key to the oil and gas sector, but the region also has a significant portion of advanced nuclear weapons and submarine facilities and has been key to its nuclear defenses.
“That deterrence was always ready,” said a senior Western intelligence official. It’s not because you’re not prepared. It’s always high status,” said the official.
At the start of the war with Ukraine in February, some submarines were redeployed to show “this is real capability”, but quickly reverted to standard high readiness capabilities.
NATO Secretary Stoltenberg said: Therefore, the strategic importance of these regions has not changed due to the war in Ukraine. ”
“We are seeing Russia reopening former Soviet bases and military installations,” he said, adding that they were “testing new weapons in the Arctic and in the Arctic.”
The war in Ukraine has caused a major adjustment to Russian military strength in the region, a senior Western intelligence official said. “They are down to somewhere between 20 and 25% of the original Army.
Russian military jets and bombers are scattered across the country and across the northern Arctic, officials added, following attacks earlier this month against two major Russian airfields deep in Ryazan and Saratov. condemned the Ukrainian attack, but Kyiv did not offer comment on the explosion at the Russian base.
The Arctic is also extremely important for Russia. Because the melting of the ice will rapidly open a new sea route from southeast Asia to Europe, using a much shorter route along the Russian coast.
The Northern Sea Route could reduce the current travel time across the Suez Canal by about two weeks.Russian state television Enjoyed it With the launch of several nuclear-powered icebreakers, designed to increase Russia’s influence and power in the region. Critics say Moscow seeks to exercise tremendous control over routes that should be equally accessible to all countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said via video link at the launch of a new nuclear-powered icebreaker in St. It will allow us to fully reveal our sexuality.” To establish effective logistics routes including Southeast Asia. ”
At the same time, the war in Ukraine increased NATO’s presence in the region. With Finland and Sweden joining the bloc, seven of her eight states in the Arctic will become members of NATO, as is widely expected.
The alliance is also increasing its military strength in the region. august, norway rliberated First image of a US B52 bomber flying over its territory, escorted by a Norwegian F35 jet and two Swedish JAS Gripens.
Increased signals by NATO include recent testing of a new weapon system, the Rapid Dragon Palletized Munition Deployment, involving the complex drop by US Special Forces of regular supply pallets from the rear of C130s. cargo craft.
The pallet contains cruise missiles, which are launched when the pallet drops by parachute. The exhibit was designed to show that the United States can launch these powerful weapons systems from the rear of regular cargo planes. The tests took place in Norway, not far from the Russian border.
NATO is also becoming increasingly concerned about possible sabotage of Norway’s oil and gas infrastructure. Russian energy is now subject to sanctions, and Norwegian natural gas accounts for more than 20% of her European supply. some analysis.
“Since the sabotage in the Baltic, we have doubled our presence in the Baltic and North Sea with ships, submarines and maritime patrol planes, some have surveillance, have better situational awareness as well as , sending a message of deterrence and readiness to protect this critical infrastructure.” The NATO chief said the attack was caused by vandalism after evidence of explosives was found at the site, according to Swedish prosecutors. It referred to an explosion at the Nord Stream pipeline in September.
However, a senior intelligence official said a recent review of Norwegian infrastructure security concluded that no major attempts had been made to attack it and that “the oil infrastructure is now well protected”. rice field.
