Russia positions tactical nukes near Finland in escalation

Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons near the Finnish border, as reported by the Moscow Times service. In April 2023, Finland joined NATO, moving away from its previously neutral stance.

The "Izvestia" news service, citing sources from the Russian Ministry of Defence, was the first to report this development.

Iskander-M missile launchers have been stationed in Karelia, a Russian region that borders Finland.

These Iskanders have been incorporated into a distinct missile brigade, which falls under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Leningrad Military District.

It's worth noting that the Iskanders have been a part of the Russian military's arsenal for attacks on Ukraine since the conflict started in 2022. The most widely used variant by the aggressor is dubbed the "M". The Iskander-M is outfitted with short-range ballistic missiles. Other models of this system include the Iskander-K (with Kalibr-NK cruise missiles) and Iskander-E (the export version).

The Iskanders positioned near the Finnish border are equipped with ballistic missiles that measure approximately 7 meters in length and almost 1 meter in diameter. Each missile has a weight range of 3,800 to 4,000 kilograms, depending on its payload, and can strike targets up to about 500 kilometres away. Their top speed reaches roughly 7,500 km/h.

An essential aspect of the Iskanders is their precision, which, in terms of CEP (circular error probable), is about 30 meters. This accuracy is achieved through an inertial guidance system supplemented with optical guidance in the final phase. The missiles of the Iskander-M system can be armed with various types of warheads (payload up to 780 kg), including cluster, fragmentation-blast, thermobaric, nuclear, or electromagnetic.