Finnish villages trained to prepare for military threats

Villages in the Kainuu region of eastern Finland are being trained to prepare for severe disruptions, including military threats, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle. While authorities stress the goal is not to alarm residents, the exercises now include scenarios of potential attacks on Finnish soil.

The training establishes local emergency hubs in villages, designed to provide heat, water, and information to residents during crises. These hubs would also serve as gathering points for evacuations if ordered by authorities. Communication is secured through a dedicated village radio network, which is being tested in the drills.

Saku Hämäläinen, risk management and security director for the Kainuu Rescue Department, said the exercises aim to ensure communities can maintain contact with authorities even if power and communication networks fail. “We have the situation under control and plans in place,” he said, adding that clear communication helps residents understand the need for preparedness.

Unlike other regions in Finland, where emergency training has focused on 72-hour household preparedness, Kainuu’s drills extend to full-scale population relocations. Laila Vähärautio, chair of Kosken village association, noted the direct discussions about potential threats have made residents more aware of the changing security environment.

Arto Jokelainen, chair of Ounasranta hunting association, said the training—covering theory and hands-on tasks like radio use—has left a lasting impression. “I haven’t fully processed what will stick from this, but there’s a lot of useful new information,” he said.

Kainuu has conducted disruption preparedness training since 2021, but this is the first time military threats have been explicitly included in the scenarios.