Helsinki, May 4 -- Finland is set to carry out a series of naval and coastal defence exercises in May close to its eastern frontier near the Russian border, with some of the military infrastructure built during the drills expected to remain in place afterwards, placing military activity close to a sensitive stretch of the Baltic region, where tensions have remained elevated ever since Helsinki joined NATO.
"On April 29, the Finnish Defence Ministry also announced plans to conduct exercises in the waters of the Gulf of Finland and the coastal zone between the Virolahti and Hamina-Kotka settlements in the Kymenlaakso region, near the Russian border.
"The exercises will involve manpower from the Navy's coastal defence brigade. The drill is s...