The Swedish Armed Forces have asked the government to expropriate a Russian-owned property located near the Muskö Naval Base in the Stockholm archipelago, citing national security concerns.
The property sits at one of the approaches to the naval base and is described by the Swedish military as the only nearby location not under its control that could significantly strengthen the defence of the facility, particularly against drones.
Swedish defence authorities said the development of Russian drone warfare has changed the country’s threat environment, requiring stronger measures to protect military installations against both aerial and maritime drones.
The Swedish Fortifications Agency, which manages defence-related properties, has therefore submitted an expropriation application to the government on behalf of the Armed Forces.
Sweden’s Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Carl-Johan Edström, said the country was facing its most serious security situation since the end of the Second World War, adding that the current ownership of the property posed an unacceptable risk to Sweden and NATO.
Swedish media have reported that the property is linked to Russian businessman Stanislav Aleshchenko, who is said to have ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The property, however, is formally registered in the name of his wife, Tatiana Sazonova, a Swedish citizen.
The estate reportedly includes a large luxury residence built into the rocky terrain overlooking the area around the naval base. Swedish authorities have previously expressed concerns about the property's strategic location.
Under Swedish law, expropriation would involve the compulsory transfer of ownership with financial compensation to the current owner. The government will now consider the military's request.
The move comes as Sweden strengthens its national security posture following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Sweden’s decision to join NATO in 2024. The Swedish government has also commissioned a review of its expropriation laws to make it easier to address property holdings that could pose national security risks.
