A multinational land exercise involving approximately 3,000 soldiers, including British troops, begins in Finland on Saturday in an area located 70 kilometers from the Russian border.
According to the Finnish Land Forces, the exercise, called "Northern Axe 25", will take place from November 29 to December 5. Approximately 3,000 soldiers will participate, including conscripts, reservists and about 70 British soldiers. The number of units participating in the exercises was not announced.
The exercises will be held at the Vuosanka training ground in Kuhmo municipality, located 70 kilometers from the Russian border.
This is the fourth exercise to begin in Finland this week. On Monday, NATO's "Frezing Winds 25" exercise began in the Baltic Sea and off the southern coast of Finland. Approximately 5,000 servicemen and 20 allied ships took part. The exercises involved ships and personnel from the navies of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States, as well as the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).
On Wednesday, the "Lapland Steel 25" exercise began at Rovajärvi, the largest training ground in Western Europe, in Lapland. Finnish troops, along with British and Swedish forces, are practicing operations in early winter conditions. The “Lively Sentry 25” exercises began on Thursday. They involve approximately 6,500 soldiers and 900 pieces of equipment, including armored vehicles, helicopters, fighter jets and drones. Part of the exercise is taking place in the Kymenlaakso region, which borders Russia.
115 maneuvers are planned for 2025.