Finland Deploys 500 Artillery Pieces and 2,200 Troops in Major Drills Near Russian Border

Finland has commenced its largest winter artillery drills, "Northern Strike 225," in Lapland, deploying approximately 500 artillery pieces and 2,200 troops to the Rovajärvi training area, located about 100 kilometers from the Russian border. The exercises, which began on November 17, 2025, are designed to test the Finnish Army's artillery system under demanding early-winter conditions and enhance NATO interoperability.

The drills involve Finnish brigades, Border Guard units, and notably, a Polish battery of Homar-K multiple rocket launchers, marking the first deployment of these systems to Finland. As stated in a social media post, Finland is "testing speed, accuracy, and how well Nordic frostbite pairs with NATO coordination," with the exercise officially described as training.

The inclusion of Polish Homar-K launchers, airlifted by Ukrainian-operated Antonov An-124 aircraft, underscores NATO's ability to project firepower into the High North. These systems are capable of firing guided rockets up to 80 kilometers and tactical ballistic missiles nearly 300 kilometers, demonstrating a new level of readiness and cohesion on the alliance's longest land border with Russia.

Finland, which joined NATO in April 2023, has intensified its military preparedness following decades of non-alignment. The "Northern Strike 225" exercise aims to integrate Finnish massed artillery with allied long-range rockets, showcasing a layered fires network across the Nordic and Baltic region. Lieutenant Colonel Kimmo Ruotsalainen, the exercise leader, described it as the "most significant" artillery and mortar firing exercise in Northern Finland for conscripts.

The strategic location and scale of the drills send a clear message about speed, reach, and cohesion within the alliance. While officially a training event, the social media post noted, "Unofficially? Moscow might want to look out the window," highlighting the geopolitical implications of the exercise. The drills are set to continue until November 25, focusing on target acquisition, command and control, ammunition logistics, and sustained fire in harsh sub-Arctic conditions.