the development of russian military policy and finland

The current ground forces east and southeast of Finland seem to be under
the command of the Russian 6 th Army Headquarters. In 2010 a motorized
infantry brigade was reported to have been established south of
St. Petersburg. It probably is part of the planned high readiness units. At
Kamenka on the Karelian Isthmus there is in readiness a motorized infantry
brigade which ranks among the elite army units. At Sertolovo, north of
St. Petersburg, a brigade is likely to be formed at the supply depot there. A
helicopter unit supporting the brigades is also located on the Karelian Isthmus.
Among the abundant artillery groups supporting the troops let us mention
the heavy rocket launcher brigade, the range of whose weapons is over
eighty kilometres.
An especially significant increase in military capability is the stationing of the
Iskander-M ballistic missiles, with a range of 450 to 700 kilometres, with the
artillery-missile brigade at Luga, south of St. Petersburg. These missiles represent
the kind of high precision weapons mentioned in military doctrine,
and its range covers, in addition to the Baltic countries, most of Finland. The
Iskander-M can be equipped with either a variety of conventional warheads
or a nuclear warhead. 2
In Russian defence planning, the Iskander missile system is given important
roles in various parts of the country as both a nuclear deterrent weapon and
an effective offensive conventional weapon. Tactical ballistic missiles and
cruise missiles are assuming an increasing operational-tactical role and augment
aviation strike forces well. The country’s military authorities have great
expectations with regard to the Iskander missile system.
In carrying out strategic strikes, the Luga Iskander missile brigade is of fundamental
importance. Along with air power, its accurate strikes could be
used to suppress any organized defence by opponents, taking advantage of
their lack of readiness.
In the Pskov area, an airborne assault division is deployed, along with a Special
Forces (Spetsnaz) brigade. In Pechenga there is a motorized infantry brigade
and a naval infantry brigade. The stated ambition is that these units be
ready for action in only a few hours. An Arctic Brigade, recruited from Spetsnaz
special forces accustomed to Arctic conditions, was also to be established
in Pechenga, according to an announcement by the commander of Russia’s
ground forces in March 2011. Plans have since been postponed to 2015. It is
too early to tell if the brigade will be an entirely new unit.
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2 For a thorough military-political and technical analysis of this missile system see Forss,
2012.