Finland has started military exercises 100 km from Russia: Poles are among the participants
A 40-person Polish heavy rocket launcher battery is also participating in the exercises. The military will practice operations with the army's artillery systems in the difficult conditions of the beginning of winter. The head of the exercise, Lt. Col. Kimmo Ruotsalainen, noted that this is the largest artillery and mortar exercise in Northern Finland for the conscripts, who will be released into the reserve in December.
"The exercises combine tactical and operational firepower and practice the integration of allied capabilities," he said. The total number of participants in the exercises, which will last until November 25, is about 2,200 people and 500 pieces of equipment. On October 16, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkanen stated that Russia is building up troops near the EU borders and is preparing for the second phase of aggression.
At the NATO meeting in Brussels, the minister noted: Russia is modernizing the army and accumulating forces near the borders, creating real risks for the Alliance. Hyakkanen emphasized the need to strengthen NATO due to the escalation of the Russian Federation, which will not stop in Ukraine. This is a signal of Moscow's long-term strategy against Europe. In general, the statement reflects the anxiety of Northern Europe regarding the hybrid threats of the Russian Federation.
Finland also joined the PURL program with military assistance to Ukraine. For his part, four-time Olympic biathlon champion Oleksandr Tikhonov called Finland "the country of the damned Chukhon people" and suggested that the country be made Hiroshima, hinting at the nuclear bombing. Such a reaction was caused by the Russian news about the ban on skiers from the Russian Federation to enter Finland in case of admission to the World Cup.