Rehearsing winter operations maintains combat capability

The Coastal Fleet’s annual winter operations exercise Lumiukko25 is being conducted in the Gulf of Finland and the Archipelago Sea from 27 February until 5 March 2025.

Lumiukko25 is a combat technical and seamanship exercise the goal of which is to train naval troops to operate in challenging winter conditions. Lumiukko25 consists of partial exercises including, among other things, naval mine laying, firing and various types of winter navigation exercises. Winter navigation and operating in winter circumstances require special skills, so training in sub-zero temperatures is essential for maintaining combat capability.

- The task of the Coastal Fleet is to safeguard territorial integrity at sea all year round. We therefore possess strong competence in operating in Arctic circumstances. We bring this knowledge with us to Nato and in this way develop the Alliance’s collective defence, emphasizes the Chief of Staff of the Coastal Fleet, Commander Toni Joutsia.

Lumiukko25 involves vessels from the 6th Surface Warfare Squadron, the 7th Surface Warfare Squadron and the 8th Service Support Squadron. In addition, some international partners from the Latvian Navy participate in the exercise on board a Finnish vessel.