Russia's increasing naval presence on the Kola Peninsula may be related to the redeployment of its ships from the Mediterranean Sea to the Barents Sea after the change of power in Syria. This opinion was expressed by military expert Brandon J. Weichert in an article for The National Interest.
Russia continues to flex its muscles in the Arctic. The Northern Fleet, which includes modern nuclear submarines, is based on the Kola Peninsula.
According to him, Russia has created a powerful defense system for the Kola Peninsula. Moscow is most interested in protecting the naval base in Gadzhiyevo (part of the ZATO Alexandrovsk) and storage facilities at the technical base located on Okolnaya Bay in the Murmansk region.
Norwegian media write about Russia increasing the number of submarines that can carry ammunition with nuclear warheads. Moscow is sending a clear signal to Europe that it opposes the activities of NATO countries in the Arctic.
According to some information, bunkers for storing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) will appear on the Kola Peninsula, Weichert added. In addition, the number of naval exercises in the region has increased, including practicing anti-submarine warfare, striking enemy ships from long distances, and conducting operations in ice-bound waters.
The Kola Peninsula is the gateway to the Arctic. Strengthening military potential indicates Russia's intention to project its power into the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom zone.
About the Northern Fleet of Russia
The Northern Military Flotilla was formed in June 1933. The main base is Severomorsk. Its main tasks include:
- maintaining naval strategic nuclear forces in constant readiness
- protecting the economic zone, suppressing poaching
- ensuring the safety of navigation in the Arctic
The Northern Fleet includes atomic strategic missile carriers of the "Borei" and "Yasen" projects, and diesel submarines of Project 877 "Paltus."
In August 2025, the fleet was replenished with a new missile cruiser "Knyaz Pozharsky" (Project 955A "Borei-A"). The submarine will be based in Gadzhiyevo.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Training ship "Smolny" arrived at the main base of the Northern Fleet - Severomorsk
- The Northern Fleet showed for the first time the tests of a nuclear icebreaker with an anti-aircraft gun on board
- The carrier of uninhabited underwater vehicles, the minesweeper "Afanasy Ivannikov", arrived in Polyarny
