Russia replenishes armored vehicle reserves near NATO borders

Satellite observations and media reports indicate that Russia is replenishing its stocks of armored vehicles, tanks, and artillery systems within military storage bases. This buildup is occurring in regions including the Kostroma region, specifically at the 22nd Central Base for Reserve Military Equipment in Buy, which is located approximately 500 kilometers from the borders of Estonia and Latvia.

While these bases were largely depleted during 2022–2023 to compensate for losses in Ukraine, new equipment—including T-90M tanks and potentially new production models—has been observed appearing between late 2025 and October 2026. Analysts note a distinction between the accumulation of equipment in storage and immediate combat readiness, as the presence of hardware in these facilities does not necessarily mean it has been assigned to active military units for immediate deployment.