The Russian Federation dispatches to Ukraine the 80th Separate Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade from the Finnish border despite the country’s accession to NATO

In May, Russia dispatched at least one battalion-tactical group of the 80th Separate Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade to Ukraine.

This is evidenced by satellite images released by the Finnish publication Yle.

The satellite images taken on May 13 and 24 show that approximately 100 pieces of equipment, specifically tanks, MT-LB tractors, and Gvozdika self-propelled guns, have left the unit.

Finnish military analysts interviewed by the publication estimate that the Russians withdrew three companies from the base.

The media assume that prior to being sent to Ukraine, the battalion tactical groups of the 80th brigade underwent coordination. To a limited extent, the brigade has been participating in the war against Ukraine ever since spring. Local publications reported on the funerals of reconnaissance officers who died in Ukraine.

It is worth noting that the base of the brigade, the town of Alakurtti, Murmansk region, is less than 50 km from Finland’s border. Despite the accelerated accession of the country to NATO, Russia is not afraid to make “bare” its borders with the bloc, against the expansion of which it seems to be fighting in Ukraine.

The 80th Separate Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade is subordinate to the Coastal Troops of the Russian Navy. Unlike most Russian brigades, it has a limited number of approximately 2,000 servicemen.

The brigade is not armed with tanks. Instead, its fleet consists of specific “Arctic” equipment. In particular, DT-10 and DT-30 “Vityaz” all-terrain articulated tracked carriers and TTM-4902 “Ruslan” all-terrain tracked carriers.

This equipment was already destroyed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv direction as early as March 2022.