diff --git a/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2 b/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2
index eb4aff220f..0f607bc0e6 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2
@@ -8,4 +8,6 @@ SyslogFacility AUTHPRIV
 UsePAM yes
 {% if kolla_base_distro in ["centos", "rocky"] %}
 Subsystem       sftp    /usr/libexec/openssh/sftp-server
+{% elif kolla_base_distro in ["debian", "ubuntu"] %}
+Subsystem       sftp    /usr/lib/openssh/sftp-server
 {% endif %}
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-2048700-98eb939b72079173.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-2048700-98eb939b72079173.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a4aec372bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-2048700-98eb939b72079173.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes Nova operations using the ``scp`` command, such as cold migration or
+    resize, on Debian Bookworm. `LP#2048700
+    <https://bugs.launchpad.net/kolla-ansible/+bug/2048700>`__