The autumn local defense exercise will be held in Kymenlaakso from 1 to 5 September 2025.
The Karelian Brigade will lead the Karelian Stronghold 25 local defense exercise in Kymenlaakso in the Kotka, Hamina, and Kouvola areas from 1 to 5 September 2025.
The Karelian Stronghold 25 local defense exercise led by the Karelian Brigade aims to develop the performance and cooperation of local forces, authorities and other actors in the region in a situation of widespread influence, as well as the readiness of local forces for target protection, surveillance, combat, rescue and communication tasks. Army troops and equipment will be visible in the Kotka, Hamina and Kouvola areas during the exercise. The exercise is led by Colonel Ari Määttä. The exercise is coordinated regionally with the KAAKKO25 exercise implemented by the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland.
Approximately 900 personnel and approximately 150 vehicles will participate in the exercise. In addition to the Karelian Brigade, troops from the Finnish Army Academy and a unit of the Virginia National Guard from the United States will participate in the exercise.
As is typical of local defence exercises, a significant number of other authorities and representatives of the business community will also participate in the exercises. The exercise, which will begin soon, will involve the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland, Defence Properties, the cities of Kotka and Hamina, the South-Eastern Finland Police, the Kymenlaakso Rescue Service, the South-Eastern Finland Border Guard, the South-Eastern Finland Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and the Environment, the Kymenlaakso Welfare Region, Kymen Vesi, HaminaKotka Satamat Oy, and the European Logistics Institute of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences.
The competence of local forces will be developed in cooperation with other authorities, taking into account the principles of use and tasks of the forces. The exercise focuses on developing the competence of the forces and securing critical sites and functions in the area in all security situations.
The Karelian Stronghold 25 exercise is part of the Army-led local defense exercise complex, which is organized twice a year in different parts of Finland. The exercise can be followed on the social media channels of the Karelian Brigade and the Army School using the hashtags #KarelianStronghold25 and #paikallispuolustus.
Civic event at Kotka event square
As part of the Karelian Stronghold 25 local defense exercise, a public event open to all will be held at the Kotka event square on September 3, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The public event will feature, among others, equipment, authorities, the military home, and personnel participating in the exercise, who will talk about both the equipment and the exercise. Admission to the event is free.