City of Kuopio participates in Northern Stone 25 local defence exercise led by Kainuu Brigade
This week, Kuopio’s streets and airspace are busy practicing preparedness. The local defence exercise will take place on 21-28 February 2025 in the North Savo area of Kuopio and Siilinjärvi. At the same time, Karelian Air Force will organize Vihuri 25 air operations exercise at Rissala Base on 24-28 February 2025. The sounds, lights and other effects of the exercises should not be scared off. It is common in Finland for civil and military authorities to train together during normal times and conditions. The security situation in Finland and the surrounding area remains good.
Northern Stone 25 local defence exercise focuses on training in total territorial defence and involves local actors from different sectors and organizations. The exercise will increase the participants’ capacity for practical cooperation in the event of incidents and emergencies in Northern Savo.
The exercise will involve conscripts, reservists and paid personnel from the Kainuu Brigade, Karelian Air Command and the Military Medical Centre, in total about 630 people. Around 60 vehicles related to the exercise will be driving on the streets.
In addition to the City of Kuopio, personnel from the Regional State Administrative Agency of Eastern Finland, the Police of Eastern Finland, the North Savo Welfare Region, the North Karelia Border Guard, the ELY of North Savo, the City of Iisalmi and the Municipality of Tervo will also participate in the exercise.
Kuopio residents should note that the training activities will be visible as training troops in various parts of the city and as military and official vehicles in traffic. The authorities will warn of the troops’ activities and direct traffic if necessary. Explosive charges may be used at individual training sites and noise may be generated at different times of the day. Both instructors and referees will be on duty at the training sites, wearing safety vests.
During the exercise, the telephone number 0299 451 994 will be on call for any contact from the public.
Northern Stone 25 exercise is part of a series of local defence exercises for the ground forces.
Vihuri 25 exercise in Rissala 24.-28.2.2025
In addition to the local defence exercise, Karelian Air Force will organise Vihuri 25 air operations exercise at Rissala and Oulunsalo bases 24-28 February 2025.
Vihuri 25 exercise will be flown with F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters in day and night conditions. The training flight activity will start on Monday 24 February at 11am and end on Friday 28 February at 2 pm. From Monday to Thursday, evening operations will end by 24:00.
Vihuri 25 exercise will be flown in the Kuopio-Rovaniemi-Kajaani-Oulu-Jyväskylä area and in the Bothnian Sea. Noise from aircraft operations may cause disturbance, which will be avoided by directing operations to sparsely populated areas. In the surrounding area of the airport, noise-reducing flight procedures will be applied wherever possible. The exercise will involve supersonic flights over the Bothnian Sea during daylight hours. Low-level flights will also be carried out with the aim of avoiding noise disturbance. The night training will use flares as part of the F/A-18 Hornet fighter’s self-protection systems, which can appear momentarily in the sky as bright light effects.
