As the Russian threat grows, firearms and defense training are increasing in Finland

KERAVA, Finland (AP) — Frustrated by Russia's expansion and decorated by as it recently joined NATOFinland is gathering to strengthen national self-defense beyond its traditional military capabilities.

Military training has become very popular in the Nordic country in recent months. Few places tell the story of the growing Finnish affinity for self-defense more than exciting shooting ranges.

Order of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine – another big Russian neighbor – in February 2022 continues to appear in many Finnish minds, and partly explains the ballistics rampage.

The Vantaa Reserve Society, which operates a gun range in a former sex toy warehouse in Kerava, north of Helsinki, has more than doubled its membership over the past two years. left and now counts over 2,100 members.

“They have something in the back of their head saying this is the skill I need to learn now,” said association chairman Antti Kettunen, standing among bullet-riddled targets. “I think the wind has changed, now it's blowing from the east.”

Earlier this year, the coalition government announced plans to open more than 300 new sites – a big jump from the 670 operating today.

Authorities are encouraging citizens to take an interest in the country's national defense with a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, where ice hockey shooting has become more of a hobby than a sport. 'shots fired.

“Interest in national defense is traditionally very high in Finland and especially these days with Russia's attack on Ukraine, the interest has increased even more,” said lawmaker Jukka Kopra, who is chairman of Finland's defense committee, told AP earlier in December.

Fueled largely by concerns over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland became a key entrepreneur 31st member of the NATO military alliance last year. Sweden's western neighbor the suit continued in March. Both countries last month reveal plans to promote their civil defense strategies, without mentioning Russia by name.

The rise in self-defense strategies doesn't stop at shooting ranges.

The National Defense Training Association says it has hosted a total of 120,000 training days this year, more than double the number three years ago.

The National Reservists Association, which is about 90% made up of military reservists but also some hobbyists, has grown by more than two-thirds to more than 50,000 members since the attack Ukraine.

And unlike some other European countries, Finland has maintained around 50,000 civil protection shelters since the Cold War era, which could accommodate around 85% of the population of around 5.5 million people.

“This is the new era of civil protection shelters, which are against the latest war developments,” said Tomi Rask, of Helsinki Rescue Services, during a recent tour of one shelter in the capital. “We know that all of our neighbors have the ability to harm us, harm our citizens, and we believe that we must prepare.”

Wearing camouflage at the range in Kerava, army reservists and military hobbyists maneuver and weave their way through an obstacle course, at times opening fire. ​with deafening Glock handguns against human-shaped targets.

“Some people do this just for fun,” said member Miikka Kallio, a 38-year-old firefighter. “Maybe some (do) because of our eastern neighbor: I have heard comments that they joined the conservatives because of the Russian attack (on Ukraine.)”

Finland is no stranger to tensions with Russia and a large part of the country's national identity was formed fighting its eastern neighbor – gaining independence from the Russian empire in 1917 and then fending off a massive Soviet force with its tiny army equipment in what was then known as the Winter War. the beginning of World War II.

Kettunen said that learning to shoot guns is a bit like learning to swim: both require training and preparation.

“When you need to know how to shoot or swim, and you don't, it's too late,” he said.