Russia is upgrading its northern fleet with hundreds of weapons in response to increasing tensions over the war in Ukraine, and proposals by Finland and Sweden to join Nato.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister, announced that “amid a dramatic deterioration of the military and political situation in Europe . . . over 500 advanced weapons systems will be delivered” to its navy in and around the Barents Sea
Russian state media reports provided no details on what these weapons systems would be. But Shoigu’s announcement on yesterday came just a day before Finnish politicians started debating a proposal to join Nato, prompted by Russia’s invasion.