Finland calls up reservists for territorial surveillance duties

Finland’s Defence Forces have begun summoning reservists for rapid-deployment training exercises to assist in monitoring the country’s territorial integrity, public broadcaster Yle reports. The move follows recent incursions by Ukrainian drones into Finnish airspace.

Reservists who have previously given their consent to short-notice call-ups are now legally obligated to participate, according to the Defence Command. While standard recall exercises typically require at least three months’ notice under Finnish conscription law, these reservists had agreed in advance to shorter preparation periods.

The Defence Forces confirmed that participation is mandatory once a formal order is issued, though reservists may withdraw their consent in writing before the exercise begins. Exemptions may also be granted for family, financial, occupational, or other personal reasons.

This marks the first time reservists have been deployed for territorial surveillance tasks, the Defence Command stated. Previously, short-notice call-ups were used only for training purposes, not operational readiness.

Reservists will receive standard reserve pay—ranging from €68.42 per day for enlisted personnel to €75.27 for officers—along with a daily allowance of €6.15 (plus an additional €1.50 for women) and reimbursement for travel costs if public transport is unavailable. Employers may also continue paying salaries during the deployment.

The Defence Forces have not specified the duration of the assignments or the exact nature of the surveillance tasks. They will, however, cover healthcare and maintenance for reservists during the exercises.