International rescue exercise brings hundreds of professionals to Oulu
Finland will host Rescue Borealis 2025, an international exercise bringing together hundreds of experts from Finland and abroad. The exercise strengthens cooperation between authorities in Euro-Arctic and cross-border emergencies. Rescue Borealis 2025 includes a field training exercise that will take place in the Oulu area between 29 September and 3 October 2025.
The exercise focuses on responding to CBRN threat scenarios. The abbreviation CBRN refers to incidents or deliberate attacks involving chemical (C), biological (B), radiological (R) or nuclear (N) elements. The exercise simulates a fictional scenario, with participants preparing for and responding to the spread of dangerous substances. Within a closed training area, participants will practise tasks such as radiation measurement and the detection of dangerous substances. The exercise will not pose any risk to participants, local residents or others in the area.
The exercise combines operational models from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with a focus on rescEU strategic stockpiles and the earlier tradition of Barents Rescue cooperation. Finland is responsible for two strategic stockpiles of the EU that have been established under the rescEU CBRN and rescEU Medical projects. For this reason, the exercise will emphasise cooperation, leadership and action in CBRN emergencies. In addition to the Ministry of the Interior, the stockpiling projects are carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the National Emergency Supply Agency and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.
Exercise strengthens Nordic preparedness
The exercise will bring more than five hundred professionals and trainers to Oulu, most of them from Finland. Around 170 professionals will participate from Sweden, Norway and Germany. The exercise will mainly be held in the Port of Oulu area, though some activities will be visible in the city. A Base Camp will also be constructed during the exercise, serving as an operational centre equipped with tents and essential infrastructure.
On Thursday 2 October, an event will be held for authorities and the media to explore different aspects of the exercise and its outcomes.
In line with Finland's comprehensive security model, the exercise will involve a wide range of national authorities from rescuers to healthcare and social welfare professionals. Participants include the Emergency Services Academy Finland, the Police, the Finnish Border Guard, the Emergency Response Centre Agency, Finnish Customs and the Finnish Defence Forces. The wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia and North Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, Oulu University Hospital, the City of Oulu, the Port of Oulu and Stora Enso’s Oulu Business Unit are also involved in the implementation of the exercise.
Inquiries:
Pauliina Eskola, Director of the Exercise, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 295 488 263, pauliina.eskola (a) gov.fi
Petteri Jokelainen, Chief Executive Officer of Fire and Rescue Services, wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia, tel. +358 44 429 6006, petteri.jokelainen (a) pohde.fi
Tarja Rantala, Project Manager, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 295 488 372, tarja.rantala (a) gov.fi