The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications has announced the closure of the airspace in the southeast of the country in what appears to be a “precautionary” measure in the context of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, according to Finnish military sources.
The restriction urges aircraft pilots to take note before takeoff that the Kaakkois-Suomi region is closed and highlights that the measure applies to both manned and unmanned aircraft, referring to drones.
Sources from the General Staff of the Finnish Armed Forces have indicated that this is a “precautionary measure” related to the conflict in Ukraine, according to the Finnish tabloid ‘Iltalehti’.
Ukraine has launched a broad offensive on the Saint Petersburg region, very close to the Finnish border. Moscow has reported dozens of intercepted drones and fires and at least four people affected by these impacts.
On the other hand, Finland reported this Saturday of the formal establishment of the NATO Advanced Land Force in this country. “It is a significant step to strengthen the northern flank and the alliance as a whole,” said Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen in a statement.
The initiative involves the transfer to Finland of the Swedish battle group until now installed in Boden – some 600 soldiers – and the handover of command of the multinational headquarters in Rovaniemi to the commander of NATO’s Supreme Allied Command for Europe, General Alexus G. Grynkewich. Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and other Nordic countries such as Denmark and Iceland participate in it.
“The NATO Forward Ground Force in Finland reinforces NATO’s deterrence in the north and provides specialized forces in the Arctic environment,” added Häkkänen.
Helsinki has taken a step forward in its military posture after hosting a NATO command, since its entry into the military organization in 2023 multiplied NATO’s land border with Russia.
The Scandinavian country is making leaps and bounds in its security posture, after taking steps to remove “legislative obstacles” to importing and transporting nuclear weapons, in a move to fully participate in NATO nuclear planning.