Finland says it is ready for a possible war with Russia
The Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Armed Forces has said that his country is ready to repel an attack by Russia.
The commander-in-chief of the Finnish Armed Forces, General Timo Kivinen, said that if Russia attacked, his country’s army was ready to repel the attack.
According to him, Finland has been preparing for years for a war-type conflict in Ukraine.
Kivinen said that even after Finland becomes a member of NATO, the responsibility for its defense will fall on its armed forces.
The general stressed that Finland has an important armory, but the main factor in repelling any aggressor is the high motivation of the Finnish soldier:
“Ukraine has become a solid piece that Russia cannot chew. It will be the same in Finland. “
Kivinen said Finland was systematically improving its defense capabilities: the country had cruise missiles with a range of 370 kilometers.
He said Helsinki had also ordered four new warships and would receive 64 upgraded F-35 fighters from Lockheed Martin.
In addition, Finland plans to purchase about 2,000 drones, air defense systems and build a barrier along the border with Russia.
Face Moscow twice
In the 1940s, Finland had to fight the Soviet Union twice.
Although Finland lost one-fifth of its territory during the 1939-1940 Winter War, it did not lose its independence.
Finland faced the USSR for the second time in World War II. In this war, Finland lost 100,000 people.
As a result of World War II, Finland adopted the status of neutrality.
Helsinki maintained this neutrality until Russia invaded Ukraine this year.
However, the country appealed to NATO in May to protect itself from possible Russian aggression.
Negotiations are underway on this membership.
Finland currently spends 2% of its GDP on defense.
Russian officials have issued angry statements about Finland’s intention to join NATO.
However, Moscow sees a greater threat to Ukraine’s possible NATO membership.
Finnish soldiers during the May exercises