According to TV2, citing Norwegian police, a search operation is underway in Finnmark, the northern region bordering Russia, for five conscript soldiers who went missing during military exercises.

The channel reported that police launched the search after receiving information that ten soldiers had failed to return from maneuvers. Five of them were later located unharmed.

Police spokesman Jorgen Houklan Hansen said that three of the soldiers managed to reach the designated meeting point on their own, while two others were found with the help of a helicopter. The remaining five are still unaccounted for. To assist in the search, police deployed dogs and drones.

Norwegian authorities indicated that the missing servicemen may have simply confused the meeting time. Other possibilities under consideration include an accident or the soldiers having lost their way.

The Norwegian Armed Forces explained earlier that the search began after the soldiers failed to make contact at the scheduled time. It was also revealed that the purpose of the exercise had been to train soldiers in remaining undetected for extended periods. The drills lasted nearly two weeks and concluded on Thursday morning.