Putin is amassing tanks on border of NATO country

 Russia is reportedly stockpiling tanks and military equipment near the border of a NATO member state, according to multiple sources cited by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). 

The buildup is said to be taking place along the frontier with Finland, which joined the NATO alliance in 2023 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Western military sources say President Vladimir Putin has ordered the expansion of a military base near Petrozavodsk, in the Karelia region, along with improvements to railway lines and other infrastructure near the NATO border.

The WSJ also reports that the Kremlin is planning to establish new military divisions in the area.

A senior Finnish military official told the paper that Russia is no longer sending its newest tanks to the front lines in Ukraine, instead opting to stockpile them closer to home—possibly in preparation for future use.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) support this assessment, suggesting the accumulation of forces indicates a shift in focus as prospects for peace between Ukraine and Russia continue to diminish.