The Finnish Defense Forces are calling up reservists who have given their prior consent to support border and airspace security missions across the country.
The General Staff of the Finnish Armed Forces announced this, and Defense Minister Antti Hykkänen explained the details of the personnel deployment, according to yle.
The need for additional forces arose due to the intensive use of drones in border areas. The mobilization of reserves is intended to ensure sufficient personnel in the event of prolonged tensions and to reduce the burden on active-duty military personnel.
Antti Hykkänen noted that this is the first time Finland has officially invoked the legal option to mobilize reservists for tasks related to safeguarding territorial integrity. According to him, the duration of such assistance will depend on the continued drone activity in areas adjacent to the border. In particular, at the end of March, two Ukrainian “Chaika” drones crashed in Finland.
Currently, monitoring the territory requires significant resources, including the constant deployment of F/A-18 fighter jets and the presence of ships in the Gulf of Finland. The Border Guard uses observation towers for visual and acoustic monitoring, while the Army has deployed mobile radars.
Security expert Charlie Salonius-Pasternak pointed out certain features of the Finnish defense model that initially did not provide for sustained support for operational activities by reserve forces. He noted that in normal times, most regular personnel focus on training conscripts rather than continuous patrolling.
The specific list of tasks and the duration of reservists’ service in units are not disclosed for security reasons. The Defense Forces also urged citizens not to share information about the movement of troops and equipment on social media.
