Russia Moving Nuclear-Capable Iskander Missiles Toward Their Border With Finland

RUSSIA - There have been reports that Russia is moving nuclear capable missiles toward their border with Finland, after Finland and Sweden stated that they have decided to seek NATO membership.

A video posted on Monday, May 16th that looks to be a deployment of mobile Iskander missiles claiming to be from a freeway on the route to Vyborg, which is a town in Russia close to the Finnish border.

Russian state television had warned that the country would deploy nuclear weapons to its borders with Europe if Finland and Sweden were to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Russian state Channel 1 television had said that "When NATO bases appear in Sweden and Finland, Russia will have no choice but to neutralize the imbalance and new threat by deploying tactical nuclear weapons" and said that they would face 'consequences' if they 'worsen the situation' in Ukraine.

The man talking in the video reportedly stated "As soon as the president of Finland said they were joining NATO, a whole division of Iskanders, seven of them ... is moving towards Vyborg. All the equipment is new, Ural trucks are driving it. So, get ready Finns, to join NATO. New Urals, seven Iskanders, looks like a new military unit is being formed - well done".

Iskander missiles are capable of being fitted with a number of various types of warheads, including a nuclear payload as well as thermobaric bombs.

The Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson had recently announced plans to follow Finland in joining the NATO alliance saying, "We will inform NATO that we want to become a member of the alliance. Sweden needs formal security guarantees that come with membership in NATO".

Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated that it would be a 'mistake' for Finland to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.