Russia ‘moves nuclear missile launchers to Finland border’

Russia has moved nuclear-capable missile systems to the Finnish border, state media have reported, in what appears to be the latest threat from the Kremlin to use such weapons against the West.

Russian media reported that a newly formed missile brigade, the Leningrad Military District, had been strengthened with Iskander-M missile systems.

The missiles can fire both conventional and nuclear warheads, and were moved to the Republic of Karelia which borders Finland, according to the Izvestia newspaper, which is close to the Kremlin.

Moving the system to the border region was a “timely and adequate response” to Finland’s membership of Nato, Admiral Vladimir Valuev, ex-commander of the Baltic Fleet, told the newspaper, adding that the missiles were “strengthening this flank”. Finland, which shares a 832-mile border with Russia, officially joined the military alliance last April, prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Dmitry Boltenkov, a Russian military historian and columnist at Izvestia, said: “Now we need to keep an eye on the Finns.”

The report comes shortly after the Polish President said his country would be willing to host Nato allies’ nuclear weapons on its territory.

However, Dr Kristian Gustafson, deputy director of Brunel University’s Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies, told i the move was a “performative response, all sound and fury, changing nothing”.

He said moving Iskander missiles to the region bordering Finland “changes no strategic calculation”, pointing to the long-term presence of Iskanders in the nearby Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It could also just amount to moving equipment around and giving it a new name, he added.

“It doesn’t change the balance of power at all — the missile is relatively short-ranged compared to other nuclear-capable rockets.” If anything, it might “slightly” change the operational level calculus in Nato’s northern region, he added.

The revelation follows warnings by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, last month that Russia was ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty were threatened.

What are Iskander-M missiles?

The Iskander-M ballistic missiles have been moved to the Republic of Karelia, along with some army corps from the nearby Kaliningrad and Murmansk regions.

The missiles have a range of between 400 and 500km, and can carry cluster warheads, fuel-air explosives, bunker-busters, and electromagnetic pulse warheads, according to military analysts. They can also be fitted with nuclear warheads, of between 500 and 700kg. Moscow has previously warned they could be used to target missile defence systems in Europe.

Russia has also reportedly developed a cruise missile version, the Iskander-K, with a range of up to 2,000km.

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What threat do they pose?

The move comes soon after Sweden’s accession to Nato last month, following months of opposition from Hungary and Turkey. Dr Gustafson, from Brunel University, said Finland and Sweden joining Nato “must be perceived as a threat by Russia”.

Earlier this week, the Poland President, Andrezj Duda, said Warsaw would be willing to allow Nato allies to deploy nuclear weapons on Polish territory.

But Dr Gustafson said Russia did not have enough conventional weapons to fortify the Nato border, after they have been “badly worn down in Ukraine”. That leaves Russia with the option of a nuclear threat, he added.

“Indeed, they are faced with the new ‘challenge’ of this new Nato border at the same time they are stripping military assets from every border to backfill losses in Ukraine,” he said.

“That leaves Russia with one thing to do—they are playing the nuclear card, because they have no conventional card at all to play.”

“They need to be seen to do something, and have nothing else to do that would have the same information or propaganda value, both internally and for the consumption of Western media and public, as moving nukes around.”

Earlier this week, the US Senate passed a long-awaited $95bn package in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, following months of delay and debate. The package includes $61bn for Ukraine, which will provide much needed artillery shells and air defence weapons to the country.

Meanwhile, Russia also criticised a planned Nato exercise near its border with Finland on 26 April. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told RIA state news agency the drills were “provocative” and “increase the risks of possible military incidents”. She added: “Their task is to exert military pressure on the Russian Federation through a demonstration of force.”