Russia redraws online map to conceal missiles near Finland
Photo: Bastion anti-ship missiles (Getty Images)
The Yandex mapping service is trying to hide a Russian military missile battery near Finland. Russia fears Ukrainian drone strikes, according to Yle.
Yandex hides Russian missiles
According to the outlet, a satellite image on Yandex Maps has been digitally edited to place an image of a forest over the missile battery.
The missile battery hidden by Yandex is located near the naval city of Kronstadt, close to St. Petersburg.
Yandex previously blurred details of military targets in satellite imagery. This time, however, the image completely conceals the presence of the military target.
The same missile battery can be seen on Western online services, including satellite imagery provided by Google, Apple and Microsoft mapping services.
Photo: screenshots from Yandex Maps and Planet Labs PBC (yle.fi)
Photo: screenshots from Yandex Maps and Planet Labs PBC (yle.fi)
Anti-ship Bastion missiles, as well as corresponding radar and electronic intelligence systems, were previously stored in the area near Kronstadt that was hidden by Yandex.
This equipment is no longer visible in the latest Western satellite images.
The vehicles may be at another location for exercises or inside covered facilities.
Russia fears Ukrainian strikes
Russia is likely hiding the target because of Ukrainian drone strikes.
Military expert Marko Eklund says this is pointless for Russia because Western and Ukrainian intelligence agencies rely on their own imagery, not Yandex.
He believes the image manipulation is the result of some Russian administrative decision: publishing images of certain targets has been prohibited.
Blurred maps
Previously, Yandex generally blurred only locations that Russia considers sensitive in satellite imagery, including:
- certain military targets;
- the area around Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai.
In 2024, a Russian court also ordered Yandex to blur satellite images of the Ryazan oil refinery following Ukrainian drone attacks.
A joint investigation by Nordic countries last spring identified a total of 119 blurred sites in western Russia.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that captured Ukrainian drones could become part of a Russian provocation against NATO. Finland is preparing for unusual scenarios.
It was also reported that Finland is actively working to restore wetlands. The effort is aimed not only at helping the climate but also at protecting the country from Russian tanks.
In addition, Finland has developed one of Europe’s most advanced civil defense systems, allowing most of the capital’s population to take shelter within a short period in the event of a military threat.
