NBC: Russia’s Military Buildup in Arctic Has U.S. Watching Closely
ALAKURTTI BASE, RUSSIAN ARCTIC — An RPG shell whistles towards its target, exploding in a ball of fire just as a group of soldiers in white fatigues, zip past on skis, bullets flying from their white rifles.
It was all part of a training exercise by Russia's newly formed 80th Motor Rifle Arctic Brigade, which was established two years ago as part of the Kremlin's bid for dominance in the Arctic. The soldiers are trained to operate in some of the least hospitable climates in the world — where temperatures can drop to -40 — using tanks, military hardware and even reindeer sleds to get around in the frozen terrain.
NBC News was granted rare access to the Alakurtti base this week, along with several other foreign media organizations. Located near the border with Finland in the Murmansk region, the Soviet-era base was refurbished and formally opened in 2015.
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More News On Russia Continuing With Its Military Buildup In The Arctic
Russia flaunts Arctic expansion with new military bases -- ABC News
Russia is building military bases in the Arctic as it tries to control the region -- NYDaily News
Russia Touts Arctic Military Base as US Struggles to Catch Up -- Military.com/FOX News
Russia expands into the Arctic by building new airbases in show of military force -- International Business Times
