Key developments on Sept. 13: * 49 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity * Finland announces $130 million aid package for Ukraine * Russia's 'rapid' offensive in Kursk Oblast hasn't yet achieved 'serious' success, Zelensky says * Russia buys Western aircraft parts via intermediaries despite sanctions * ATACMS 'pointless' without ability to strike inside Russia, Zelensky
The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine's use of Western long-range weapons against Russia would mean that NATO countries were directly involved in the war.
The total amount of military aid Finland has provided Kyiv now stands at 2.3 billion euros ($2.5 billion), the Finnish Defense Ministry said.
The Finnish government has proposed banning most Russian citizens from buying real estate in the country to ensure national security, Reuters reported Sept. 2, citing Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen.
Ville Mykkanen is the fifth known Finnish volunteer fighter to have been killed fighting for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed strong support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression, including strikes and advances on Russian territory.
A Finnish volunteer fighter was killed in Donetsk Oblast in mid-July, marking the fourth Finnish national killed fighting for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Association of Finnish War Veterans confirmed on July 30.
Finland's parliament passed a law on July 12 granting border guards the authority to block asylum seekers crossing from Russia. Helsinki believes Moscow is promoting the crossings in retaliation for Finland joining NATO.
"Russia's apparent GPS jamming is likely part of Russia's intensifying hybrid campaign directly targeting NATO states likely aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and NATO unity," the ISW said.
Spurred by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Finland entered NATO in April 2023, extending the NATO-Russian border by roughly 1,340 kilometers (830 miles).
Key updates on June 28: * Kremlin claims 'provocations' from US drones over Black Sea, prepares potential response * Drone hits oil depot in Tambov Oblast, Russian official says * Russia hits nine-story residential building in downtown Dnipro, killing at least 1, injuring 5 * Another Russian Su-25 downed, Ukraine's National Guard claims * Finland
The total amount of military assistance Finland has provided Ukraine now stands at 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), the Finnish Defense Ministry said.
Finland's Gasum, a major gas supplier to the Nordic region, announced on June 25 that it will cease purchasing and importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in July in accordance with new European Union sanctions.
"On average, 80 percent of the equipment and soldiers have been transferred to the war in Ukraine," a high-ranking military intelligence source told Yle.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted that this week has favored Ukraine. He highlighted the G7 summit, the start of EU negotiations, NATO support, and Ukraine's summit, which gathered over 100 representatives. "(Ukraine is) much stronger than what it was three weeks ago, let alone three months ago," he said.
On June 10, a Russian warplane violated Finnish airspace for the first time since Finland joined NATO last year.
Representatives of Finland, Canada, and Poland issued separate statements on May 29 saying Ukraine can use their weapons to strike targets on Russian territory.
A draft decree suggesting changing Russia's border in the Baltic Sea was deleted from the Russian government website on May 22 after swift condemnation from some NATO members.
Lithuania and Finland have not yet reacted to Russia's decision toward the maritime border, nor has Russia's unilateral decision been recognized internationally.
Finland is planning to change its conscription rules to allow reservists to help patrol the border with Russia in the case that there is a sudden wave of migrants, Reuters reported on May 15.
The event will be centered around Ukraine's 10-point peace formula, a plan first outlined by President Volodymyr Zelensky in fall 2022 that calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian lands.
"We need to increase the production of explosives significantly. Therefore, we must seriously consider the role of domestic industry in this matter," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said.
Three Russian students studying in Finland were detained for allegedly exporting unspecified dual-use goods - items that are suitable for military capabilities, Finnish outlet Yle reported on May 3.
Finland's government has decided to keep the border with Russia closed "until further notice," the Finnish Interior Ministry reported on April 4.
Key developments on April 3: * Zelensky: Russia preparing to mobilize additional 300,000 troops by June * Ukraine, Finland sign long-term security agreement * Zelensky: Russia launched over 4,000 missiles, Shahed drones, guided aerial bombs on Ukraine in March * Military intelligence: Russia has roughly 200 Su-34, Su-35 jets, 7 A-50 planes
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb, signed in Kyiv a long-term security agreement between the two countries, Zelensky announced on April 3.
Over the past few days, Germany, Belgium, and Finland announced aid packages for Ukraine totaling over 1 billion euros, a critical boost to Kyiv's military from Europe as the U.S. continues to squabble over and delay a $60 billion package of its own. While the latest assistance pledged is
Finland joined a Czech-led initiative to provide Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, pledging 30 million euros ($35.6 million) to the effort, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen announced on March 19.
At the same time, Finland is not currently willing to send troops or even ready to discuss it, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.
Putin's comment marks the 11th nuclear threat the Russian president has issued since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
This is the first sentencing in Finland related to violations of sanctions against Russia.
The Nordic Response 24 NATO exercises begin in northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway on March 4, for the first time with the participation of Finland as a NATO member, the Finnish public broadcaster YLE reported.
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