Norway’s first line feels the Ukraine war on the body – NRK Troms and Finnmark
– What I saw on TV was that there are a lot of people who are on the run. But there are also many who are left and are fighting for their country. It made me very proud to be in HV, says Betty Strand.
She’s a cannon man in Homeland Security in Finnmark, also known as HV-17. Otherwise this year she is an environmental therapist.
Last week, Strand instructed other soldiers in the use of anti-tank weapons. It is the same weapon that Norway has sent to Ukraine to assist in the war against Russia.
Strand is grateful to have several years to develop her weapon skills so that she is ready if necessary.
– Training means a little more now. It can be seen that those who are left in Ukraine have had a quick education in combat, and being a defensive force, she says.
At the same time, she says that the willingness to defend their own country, as the Ukrainians show, is also great in HV-17.
– There are people who will protect their local environment. That’s where they live. You have your friends, your family, and they are known in the areas both in the mountains and along the sea. And yes, Norway is my home, but my home is also where I grew up, says Strand.
Dairy farmer and area manager
The exercise Strand participates in is the first of the year for HV-17. This year, it is skill training that is in the spotlight. The exercise took place at Porsangmoen, in the middle of Finnmark.
The soldiers are shot with several types of weapons, such as the HK-416 rifle, the hand-held cannon Carl Gustav RFK and the mass destruction rifle Barrett M82.
One of those who has been behind the plan for the exercise is area manager Sven Reimer Anderssen.
He, too, has given some extra thought to the war in Ukraine, and especially to the fact that his soldiers could potentially be shot at.
– In the end, I have to sacrifice people. It is not comfortable, but I am prepared for it, says Reimer Anderssen.
The area manager for Tanafjorden, like most others in the Home Guard, has another job. He is usually a dairy farmer.
Nevertheless, he has faith that he and the HV-17 soldiers will show up if necessary.
– JI’m confident in my people. They want to be there next to me, he says.
Lack of material in the Home Guard
Chief of HV-17, Bernt Lockert, says that being responsible for the soldiers who are part of Finnmark’s front line in a crisis or war is burdensome.
– It is the recognition of where we are in the world and who we have as neighbors. The will to defend that we see here is quite unique. The reality of what we train for is very strong in Finnmark, he says.
But even though the defensive will of HV-17 is great, they have shortcomings in their equipment.
The same applies to HV-16, which includes Tysfjord, Lofoten and Vesterålen in Nordland and the entire former county of Troms.
As a result of the war in Ukraine, the government has this week decided to allocate an extra NOK 3.5 billion to the Armed Forces and civil emergency preparedness this year.
The extra billions will increase activity in both the Navy, the Army and the Home Guard.
– We will sail more with all the navy’s vessels, and we will strengthen our ability to monitor and understand the situation in the north. We will also strengthen the police’s ability to detect and counter the intelligence threat, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre when he presented the measures.
Bernt Lockert is aware that we must continue to build up the Armed Forces again – as we have done since 2015.
– I always miss everything from people to materials, money, practice and EBA. But it is not the case that what we have today does not work, because it does. Should something happen today, we will fight with what we have.
It is unlikely that Norway will be attacked
This week, the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment also presented the Defense Analysis 2022. It points out that the Norwegian Armed Forces is not well enough equipped to withstand a major attack.
Tomas Beck, Commander of the Finnmark Land Defense (FLF), acknowledges that the Armed Forces has a potential for improvement.
– Mone we are on our way, something the Chief of Defense has pointed out, among other things through his professional military advice. Here in Finnmark, a lot of positive things have happened in recent years, and construction will continue here through the development of Finnmark land defense, he says.
And considering a possible attack, Beck says they are prepared for the unthinkable.
– Although it is unlikely, the Ukraine conflict has shown us that we can still have surprises in everyday life, he says.
In total in the FLF there are 3000 soldiers from the garrison in Sør-Varanger, Porsanger battalion and HV-17.
In the event of a conflict in Finnmark, the FLF will receive assistance from the Navy, the Air Force, special forces and allies.
Beck still says that he feels a little extra about the responsibility he has due to the war in Ukraine, but he is still good at night.
– Now that Russia has involved a neighboring country, it means that we place greater emphasis on doing the work tasks we are supposed to and sharpen ourselves further in relation to what we have done before, says the FLF chief.