British soldiers have completed a rigorous six-week Arctic warfare training exercise in Finland, participating in a major Nato operation designed to bolster defences on the alliance's extended border with Russia.
Surviving the Extreme Cold
Approximately 50 soldiers from C Company, 3 Rifles, based in Edinburgh, were deployed to the frozen north of Finland. There, they confronted the brutal challenges of operating in temperatures as low as minus 28 degrees Celsius. The troops, accustomed to hot-weather training in locations like Kenya and Morocco, learned critical survival skills. These included coping with sudden immersion in icy water, preventing frostbite, and mastering combat techniques in deep snow, including shooting while on skis.
Joining Forces with Finland's Determined Defence
Following their initial training, the British reconnaissance specialists integrated with the Finnish Army's Kainuu Brigade for Operation Northern Ax. The exercise took place in the dense forests of Vuosanka, a location strategically situated just 20 miles from the Russian border and roughly 400 miles north of Helsinki.
The British contingent joined around 3,000 Finnish conscripts, reservists, and regulars for a sophisticated, five-day simulated battle. Commanders monitored troop movements in real-time, testing defence strategies, delaying tactics, night combat, and attack manoeuvres in a continuous day-and-night scenario.
A Nation Prepared for the Unthinkable
The exercise holds profound significance for Finland, a nation that shed decades of neutrality to join Nato in 2023, extending the alliance's border with Russia by over 800 miles. The ongoing war in Ukraine has heightened concerns about regional security. Finland, which gained independence from Russia in 1917 and famously repelled a Soviet invasion during the Winter War of 1939-40, maintains a formidable citizen army.
Through mandatory conscription for men, who remain reservists until age 50, Finland's population of 5.5 million can mobilise a defence force of up to 900,000. This system enjoys widespread public support, with reservists regularly called for refresher training.
Major Henry Wootton, who led the British company, expressed admiration for Finland's comprehensive defence posture. "It is really impressive to see a country that is orientated for defence," he said. "They have a set-in-stone defence plan and everyone contributes to that with their conscript service when they are 18."
He noted that while his professional soldiers had more military practice, the Finns' innate knowledge of the harsh environment was a crucial advantage. Rifleman Aaron Hunter, 21, from Wakefield, highlighted the palpable sense of threat driving the training. "It's a big talking point for the Finns," he stated, "and they think it's a very high-level threat that could be around the corner – who knows?"
