NATO exercises have begun in Finland near the border with Russia with the participation of 5,000 military personnel

Ground exercises involving about 5,000 troops began in Finland on Friday, May 23, near the Russian border.

Maneuvers called Karelian Sword 25 are taking place in the Kymenlaakso region from May 23 to June 1. They involve the military of the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as about 700 pieces of equipment, RIA Novosti reported, citing the country's ground forces.

"Wherever you are, you can see Russia when you fly. <...> You are so close," said Brigadier General Nick English, commander of the British Army's 1st Aviation Brigade Combat team, commenting on the exercises at Europe's largest training ground in northern Finland, as quoted by Newsweek.

Finnish, Swedish and British military personnel are actively involved in the training, as reported by the publication, who practice firing howitzers and loading Hellfire missiles into Apache helicopters about 112 km from the Russian border. It is specified that additional military exercises are taking place to the south, along the eastern border of NATO near Russia and on the border with Ukraine.

Orientation - North: NATO military exercises began near Karelia

Alliance units are practicing the use of UAVs in Finland - why are most of these maneuvers now taking place on the borders with the Russian Federation

Broadcaster Yle reported on May 15 that Finland is planning to build a new site for testing border security technologies. It was specified that the project will be implemented in the city of Joensuu, which is located 70 km from the Russian border. Operation of the laboratory will begin in 2026.