Finnish Defense Forces and Border Guard conduct naval artillery drills near Kotka
The Finnish Defense Forces and the Border Guard are conducting naval artillery exercises off the coast of Kotka this week. The drills involve vessels from both branches and are taking place at the Kirkonmaa and Rankki firing ranges.
The Gulf of Finland Coast Guard began its exercises on Monday, with additional training scheduled for Wednesday between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. The Coastal Fleet will continue the drills on Thursday and Friday, extending the operational hours from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Iltalehti). According to Ilta-Sanomat, the Coastal Fleet’s exercises will conclude at 8:00 PM on both days.
The exercises coincide with the start of the Kotka Maritime Festival on Wednesday, one of Finland’s largest maritime events. Markus Malila, a communications specialist from the Navy Command, confirmed to Yle that the festival should not interfere with the drills. Authorities will ensure that firing only occurs if the restricted areas are clear of maritime traffic. "The drills will only be carried out if there is no traffic in the restricted area that could affect the firing. If traffic is clearly present when moving into the area, the drills will not even begin in principle," Malila stated (Iltalehti).
Defined danger zones and safety measures
For the duration of the exercises, specific danger zones have been established to ensure safety. On Wednesday, the eastern boundary of the restricted area follows the route Sontakari–Laurinkari–Pauhakari, while the southern boundary runs along the line Sontakari–Kolselinpekko–Lakanmatala. The western boundary is marked by the route Saviletto–Kiviletto, and the northern boundary follows the 60 degrees 20 minutes north latitude line (Iltalehti, Ilta-Sanomat).
For Thursday and Friday, the danger zone’s northern boundary is defined by Kirkonmaa and Rankki. The western boundary extends along the line Kaunissaari–Ristisaari–Elo 1–Finnish territorial waters, while the eastern boundary follows Kirkonmaa–Haapasaari–Finnish territorial waters. The southern boundary aligns with Finland’s territorial waters (Iltalehti).
Boaters in the area will be informed of the exercises via VHF channel 16, as authorities monitor the restricted zones throughout the drills.
