Finland has prepared for decades for a Russian attack and would put up stiff resistance should one occur, its armed forces chief has said.

The Nordic country has built up a substantial arsenal. But aside from the military hardware, Gen Timo Kivinen said, a crucial factor is that Finns would be motivated to fight.

“The most important line of defence is between one’s ears, as the war in Ukraine proves at the moment,” Kivinen said in an interview.

Finland fought two wars in the 1940s against its eastern neighbour, with which it shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border.

Once a non-aligned country, it is now applying to join the Nato military alliance over concerns that Russia could invade like it did Ukraine on 24 February. Since the second world war, Helsinki has kept up a high level of military preparedness.

“We have systematically developed our military defence precisely for this type of warfare that is being waged there [in Ukraine], with a massive use of firepower, armoured forces and also air forces,” Kivinen said. “Ukraine has been a tough bite to chew [for Russia], and so would be Finland.“

A hundred thousand Finns were killed during the two wars Finland fought against the Soviet Union, and it lost a tenth of its territory.

The nation of 5.5 million has a wartime troop strength of 280,000, with 870,000 trained as reservists. It did not abolish military conscription for males as many other western nations did after the end of the cold war.

It has also built one of Europe’s strongest artillery arsenals and stocked up on cruise missiles with a range of up to 370km (230 miles). It spends 2% of its GDP on defence, a level higher than many Nato countries.

It is ordering four new warships, as well as 64 F-35 fighter jets from the US defence giant Lockheed Martin. It plans to order up to 2,000 drones and deploy its own high-altitude anti-aircraft equipment, and is building barriers on its border with Russia.

82% of respondents in an 18 May poll by the defence ministry said they would be willing to participate in national defence if Finland was attacked.

Still, Kivinen welcomed Finland’s decision to apply to join Nato. Finland and fellow Nordic country Sweden are in talks with Turkey to discuss its opposition to their applications. Ankara has been angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm’s support for Kurdish militants and arms embargos on Turkey.

Nato membership would allow Finland to boost its early warning capacity by being part of the alliance’s joint airspace control, Kivinen said. Finland would also benefit from the deterrence of being part of an alliance in which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members, he said.

Nevertheless, he said, “The main responsibility for Finland’s defence will still be borne by Finland.”

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/22/finns-are-ready-to-fight-any-russian-attack-says-its-armed-forces-chief

Finland would end up as a heap of rubbish

Nukilia:
Finland would end up as a heap of rubbish

Finish are real Europeans and not Untermensch (pardon my language) like Russians or Ukrainians.

Almost 4 months now, Ukraine has not been subdued. Opening another war front with a much stronger country like Finland would be suicidal.

U are fully prepared, yet u're seeking for prop on NATO. Ur legs are certainly shaking.

VirileNelly2420:
U are fully prepared, yet u're seeking for prop on NATO. Ur legs are certainly shaking.

They should have sought for prop on Nigeria right?

Vawulence country

Russia Can't invade Finland....

Them go use waste that their Rubbish old tanks

VirileNelly2420:
U are fully prepared, yet u're seeking for prop on NATO. Ur legs are certainly shaking.

NATO is like forming alliance with the Niggars at the top....
They go dey receive blessings sometimes sef....

Which legs dey shake sef??
Person wey come out to say all these fi dey fear

Omo una funny Gon oo

Rastaramsey:


NATO is like forming alliance with the Niggars at the top....
They go dey receive blessings sometimes sef....

Which legs dey shake sef??
Person wey come out to say all these fi dey fear

Omo una funny Gon oo

If ur legs ain't shaking militarily, no need joining military alliance...to challenge a single nation.

As a matter of fact, dey made it clear dey've prepared for dis long ago. So,, why seeking NATO?

FERNANDEZISBACK:

They should have sought for prop on Nigeria right?

Wen we're trying to conserve d little tear gas we can only boast of...

We can only remit prayers.
Let dem go ahead with challenging Russia, ours prayers are with dem!

gambojimeta:

Finish are real Europeans and not Untermensch (pardon my language) like Russians or Ukrainians.

Almost 4 months now, Ukraine has not been subdued. Opening another war front with a much stronger country like Finland would be suicidal.

Putin is only destroying Ukraine systematically. If Putin had wiped them out immediately, the Western narrative would look like Putin committed genocide

I think the west have tried to fuel the war and see to the extermination of the Ukrainians. In the future, the west might be judged for being on the wrong side of history.

Resolution of the conflict by all the international sec. Organizations was the first diplomatic step which could have prevented the war.

VirileNelly2420:

Wen we're trying to conserve d little tear gas we can only boast of...

We can only remit prayers.
Let dem go ahead with challenging Russia, ours prayers are with dem!

Little teargas got me giggling..

Na so e dey start

Nukilia:
Finland would end up as a heap of rubbish

RUSSIA IS STILL STRUGGLING IN UKRAINE.

VirileNelly2420:

Wen we're trying to conserve d little tear gas we can only boast of...

We can only remit prayers.
Let dem go ahead with challenging Russia, ours prayers are with dem!

Haba
You

VirileNelly2420:

If ur legs ain't shaking militarily, no need joining military alliance...to challenge a single nation.

As a matter of fact, dey made it clear dey've prepared for dis long ago. So,, why seeking NATO?

THEY ARE LETTING RUSSIA KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T STOP THEM FROM JOINING NATO EVEN IF THE DNT BUY THE IDEA

Kelvin3476:
THEY ARE LETTING RUSSIA KNOW THAT THEY CAN'T STOP THEM FROM JOINING NATO EVEN IF THE DNT BUY THE IDEA

Nope... Dey're frightened seeing wot Ukraine is going true.

Go back to d post, dis time, read slowly...

Nukilia:


Putin is only destroying Ukraine systematically. If Putin had wiped them out immediately, the Western narrative would look like Putin committed genocide

I think the west have tried to fuel the war and see to the extermination of the Ukrainians. In the future, the west might be judged for being on the wrong side of history.

Resolution of the conflict by all the international sec. Organizations was the first diplomatic step which could have prevented the war.

Don't waste your time replying this broke nincompoop called IGBOFAM, he operates a 100 account here on nairaland actively slaving up and down

The Ukraine president said more than this before Russia invasion. Finland should trend carefully because Russia will not take it likely with them. Ukraine is still standing today because they share the same genetic family with Russia. Finland will be treated in the language they understand.

shogsman:

Don't waste your time replying this broke nincompoop called IGBOFAM, he operates a 100 account here on nairaland actively slaving up and down

You are deluded.

You were exposed as a low-life lying scum. To you, that means every anti-Putin post is from igbofam. You better beg seunny4lif to send you some Euros, that is one hypocrite enjoying Western life even though he shits on western countries on Nairaland on a daily basis. Atleast he is truthful unlike you slowpoke.

Your brain appears to be under your foot.

Russia is not even looking at Finland. Last time fins fought with Soviets russia, they lost lands against Stalin. But they said that they technically defeated soviet union..well let hope it won't happen. Because Finland won't find it funny. Ukraine is still crying for weapons, after NATO and allies have supplied them with thousands of heavy weapons, they have even started to surrender the most Morden artillery systems to Russian forces. And zelenskys says thay they needed more heavy weapons plus Poland is accusing russia of destroying NATO weapons supplied to Ukraine.

VirileNelly2420:

Nope... Dey're frightened seeing wot Ukraine is going true.

Go back to d post, dis time, read slowly...

U NEED THE SLOW READING. THEY PASSD THE INFORMATION TO RUSSIA FOR A RETHINK