People in Finland have been left unsettled by expansionist neighbor Russia and inspired by its recent accession to NATO, are increasingly taking national self-defense into their own hands.

Summary

Finland, recently joining NATO and sharing an 830-mile border with Russia, is bolstering its national defense amid concerns over Russia’s aggression, particularly after the invasion of Ukraine.

Weapons training and reservist activities have surged, with shooting range memberships doubling and over 120,000 defense training days held this year.

The government plans to build 300+ new shooting ranges and maintain Cold War-era shelters for 85% of its population.

Drawing on its history of resisting Russian forces, Finland is preparing civilians and military reservists for potential threats.

  • Bahnd Rollard@lemmy.worldEnglish
    87·
    3 days ago

    A joke:

    Its the winter war and a Soviet transport convoy is slowly trudging through Finnish wilderness, and the Soviet commanding officer hears a voice from the woods.

    “Hey… I bet one Finnish soldier can beat one Soviet soldier”

    The commander confused at the direction the voice is coming from sends a guy into the forest to check it out (Insert the sounds of gunshots and fighting before silence returns).

    The voice comes back

    “Hey… I bet one Finnish soldier can beat ten Soviet soldiers”

    The commander, now irritated, sends a large squad of soldiers to deal with the voice (Insert the sounds of gunshots and fighting before silence returns again).

    The voice comes back a third time.

    “Hey… I bet one Finnish soldier can beat one hundred Soviet soldiers!”

    This time the Soviet commander is entirely done with this shit and tells every soldier in the convoy to get out of their transports and hunt down the voice. The sounds of pitch battle begin again, but after a while one of the Soviet soldiers runs back to the commander shouting “No! Its a trap! There is two of them!”.

  • Windex007@lemmy.worldEnglish
    40·
    3 days ago

    Finland has mandatory civil service. Vast majority of men have done at least a brief period of military service.

    This would be much more about skill maintenance than “learning to shoot”

  • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    242·
    3 days ago

    I learned how to shoot so I could harvest animals, these people are learning how to shoot to defeat an existential threat. Completely different worlds.

    I only know Finns through thier outstanding hockey talent in the NHL but I welcome them to NATO and have learned a little more about the country since they joined.

    • Nougat@fedia.io
      7·
      3 days ago

      I’m surprised that the Finns haven’t invented a biathlon that combines rally racing and target shooting.

      • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        11·
        3 days ago

        Biathlon comes from Sweden, but we finns have invented other interesting sports such as:

        • Sauna competition (cancelled indefinitely since the ruski died)
        • Wife carrying contest
        • Swamp football
        • mosquito killing competition
        • mobile phone throwing
        • berry picking championships
  • rockerface 🇺🇦@lemm.eeEnglish
    12·
    2 days ago

    Sounds great. Do not repeat our mistakes. Do not trust the promises of peace and protection. Do not let what is happening to Ukraine happen to you.

  • tlou3please@lemmy.worldEnglish
    17·
    3 days ago

    If history has taught us anything, a few Finns with some rusty old rifles could clear up this conflict in a couple hours.