Russia may respond to Finland’s latest military drills by deploying Oreshnik missile systems and other weapons to the shared border, according to Alexey Chepa, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, speaking to Lenta.ru.

He said Moscow views any NATO exercises as a potential risk — all the more so when they involve a new member of the alliance. In his view, Russia’s military leadership must factor in such activities and make clear to Helsinki what countermeasures could follow. Chepa stressed that if Moscow perceives a threat, it will reinforce its positions in border regions, including through the deployment of Oreshnik systems.

Finland has already begun its Northern Strike 225 artillery drills. The exercises are taking place at the Rovayarvi training ground in Lapland, roughly 100 kilometers from the Russian border, and involve around 2,200 troops and about 500 units of equipment. The maneuvers will continue until 25 November.

The Oreshnik ballistic missile reaches speeds of 2–3 km/s, and existing global missile-defense systems are unable to intercept such targets. Its operational range is estimated at 1,000 to 5,500 kilometers. Military analysts believe the system may be a successor to the Soviet-era Pioner (RSD-10) missiles, which were eliminated under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.