Finland on Monday kicked off “Northern Strike 225,” its biggest artillery exercise in Northern Lapland in decades. The drill at the Rovajärvi range—just 100 km from Russia—brings together 2,200 Finnish and Polish troops and 500 pieces of heavy equipment to practise coordinated firepower in sub-zero conditions. The manoeuvres run until 25 November and test the interoperability protocols Finland has adopted since joining NATO in 2023.
While primarily a defence exercise, the operation carries mobility implications. The Finnish Border Guard has warned that live-fire activity could prompt temporary air-space restrictions and road closures on Route 82, a key supply link between Rovaniemi and the Salla border station. Logistics firms moving staff or goods to Lapland—or onward to Norway via the E75 corridor—should check NOTAMs and local advisories for detours and curfews.
![Large-Scale Artillery Drill Near Russian Border Signals Finland’s Heightened Security Posture]()
The drill also underscores the strategic shift that has already curtailed cross-border civilian movement. Since late 2023, Finland has shuttered all road crossings with Russia and accelerated construction of a 200-km high-security fence. Military exercises so close to the frontier reinforce the message that the border will stay militarised, dampening hopes among tourism boards in South Karelia for a quick reopening that would revive shopping and hotel traffic from St Petersburg.
For foreign companies with expatriates in Lapland’s mining and tech clusters, the practical takeaway is to review contingency plans for medical evacuation and to ensure that Schengen multiple-entry visas or residence permits are valid for re-routing through northern airports should road corridors close unexpectedly. Airlines have so far reported no schedule changes at Rovaniemi, Kittilä or Ivalo, but Finavia says slot availability could tighten if military traffic increases.
Geopolitically, the presence of Polish artillery units signals deeper Nordic-Baltic defence integration. Mobility advisers should expect more joint drills in 2026, meaning periodic but predictable disruptions to civilian travel in Finland’s northern and eastern regions.
While primarily a defence exercise, the operation carries mobility implications. The Finnish Border Guard has warned that live-fire activity could prompt temporary air-space restrictions and road closures on Route 82, a key supply link between Rovaniemi and the Salla border station. Logistics firms moving staff or goods to Lapland—or onward to Norway via the E75 corridor—should check NOTAMs and local advisories for detours and curfews.
The drill also underscores the strategic shift that has already curtailed cross-border civilian movement. Since late 2023, Finland has shuttered all road crossings with Russia and accelerated construction of a 200-km high-security fence. Military exercises so close to the frontier reinforce the message that the border will stay militarised, dampening hopes among tourism boards in South Karelia for a quick reopening that would revive shopping and hotel traffic from St Petersburg.
For foreign companies with expatriates in Lapland’s mining and tech clusters, the practical takeaway is to review contingency plans for medical evacuation and to ensure that Schengen multiple-entry visas or residence permits are valid for re-routing through northern airports should road corridors close unexpectedly. Airlines have so far reported no schedule changes at Rovaniemi, Kittilä or Ivalo, but Finavia says slot availability could tighten if military traffic increases.
Geopolitically, the presence of Polish artillery units signals deeper Nordic-Baltic defence integration. Mobility advisers should expect more joint drills in 2026, meaning periodic but predictable disruptions to civilian travel in Finland’s northern and eastern regions.
