The Commander of the Finnish Army inspected the operations of Army units

The Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, inspected the operations of Army units in Kymenlaakso, Lapland, and Kajaani in February 23–28, 2025.

The Arctic Forge 25 exercise was underway in Vekaranjärvi and in Sodankylä, where the commander met not only with Finnish forces but also with American and Canadian troops. In the north, the commander also visited the Utti Jaeger Regiment’s winter-conditions exercise. In all these exercises, the units demonstrated their ability to operate in demanding and variable conditions of the High North: #PohjoinenPitää

At the Karelia Brigade, the commander met with the leadership of the Virginia National Guard and also with Senator Timothy Kaine of Virginia. Discussions focused on the war in Ukraine, cooperation with the U.S. Army, and the Virginia National Guard.

At the Kainuu Brigade, Lieutenant General Välimäki met with troops and also with the head of the Kainuu Regional Council, Riikka Pirkkalainen, as well as members of the readiness forum. Kainuu has strong expertise and commitment to the development of comprehensive defense, with local solutions and actions in place to enhance preparedness.