Swedish broadcaster SVT has obtained new satellite images showing that russia is modernizing its nuclear bases near Europe - one of them is located 270 km from Sweden.
This was reported by the Swedish public broadcaster SVT.
Thus, the publication has received new satellite images from Planet Labs, which show that at least five russian nuclear bases near Sweden have been expanded and modernized in recent years.
Changes seen at base in Kaliningrad, satellite image Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
In particular, new satellite images from May 2025 show that in Kaliningrad, 270 km from the Swedish border, a nuclear base has been modernized with new buildings, a triple fence and new communication functions. According to the Polish government, about 100 tactical nuclear warheads are stored in Kaliningrad.
Also, large new buildings have been erected on Novaya Zemlya in Arkhangelsk Oblast, russia, with experts describing the base as russia's most important nuclear testing and development base.
Розбудова на Новій Землі у 2021 році, супутниковий знімок Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Джерело: SVT
Development on Novaya Zemlya in 2021, satellite image Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
About 50 storage facilities for ballistic missiles on submarines have been built on russia's Kola Peninsula, as well as a pier for loading mDevelopment on Novaya Zemlya in 2021, satellite image Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVTissiles onto submarines.
In addition, according to nuclear weapons researchers from the American organization FAS, a Soviet-era nuclear weapons depot in Osipovichi, Belarus, located behind three rows of fencing, is being modernized with a new cargo platform for rail transport and an air defense system.
"We have known about this and have been following it for a long time. It is both about russian investments in nuclear potential and the development of a new doctrine," said Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson.
Розбудова на Новій Землі у 2021 році, супутниковий знімок Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Джерело: SVT
Розбудова на Новій Землі у 2025 році, супутниковий знімок Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Джерело: SVT
На російському Кольському півострові зведено близько 50 сховищ для балістичних ракет на підводних човнах, а також причал для завантаження ракет на підводні човни.
Okolna, Murmansk Oblast, on the Kola Peninsula in 2016, satellite image Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
Okolna, Murmansk Oblast, on the Kola Peninsula in 2016, satellite image Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
Okolna, Murmansk Oblast, on the Kola Peninsula in 2016, satellite image Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
It is noted that experts describe russian nuclear weapons as russia's most important trump card in negotiations. The country's political leadership is willing to demonstrate these weapons and regularly intimidates the world, trying to get its way on the international stage.
Osipovichi base in 2021, satellite image by Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
Osipovichi base in 2021, satellite image by Maxar/Planet Labs PBC. Source: SVT
"Russia has lowered the threshold for threats to use nuclear weapons, and since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have seen that it has done this more than 200 times at various political levels," Jonson added.
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