Ramstein Flag 26: Traffic and Movement Restrictions in Tervo, Kuopio and Siilinjärvi
A Finnish Air Force flight operations exercise will close the regional road between Karttula and Tervo in June 2026.
The Finnish Air Force flight operations exercise will cause traffic arrangements and movement restrictions in the Tervo emergency landing strip area in early June, from 7 to 14 June 2026.
The Finnish Air Force will utilise the Tervo highway strip as part of NATO’s international Ramstein Flag 26 exercise. Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighters and other participating aircraft will use the site as a road base. Other bases to be used in Finland include Kuopio-Rissala, Rovaniemi, Tampere-Pirkkala and Jyväskylä-Tikkakoski. The exercise will enhance interoperability with Allies and conduct large-scale multinational air operations in the areas of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Traffic arrangements and movement restrictions in the Tervo area
Karelia Air Wing will operate the Tervo emergency landing strip from 7 to 14 June 2026. The exercise will cause traffic arrangements due to the closure of regional road 551 (Sininen tie / “Blue Highway”) between Karttula and Tervo, as well as movement restrictions for local residents.
Regional road 551 between Karttula and Tervo will be closed to traffic starting Saturday, 6 June at 23:59. The road will be reopened to public traffic by Sunday, 14 June at 23:59. All road traffic will be diverted via the route Karttula (road 554) – Ahvensalmi (junction of roads 554 and 5512) – Tervo (road 5512).
Administrative decision on Ramstein Flag 26 exercise areas
The Finnish Defence Forces will designate the required exercise areas in Siilinjärvi, Kuopio, and in the Karttula and Tervo areas of Kuopio by administrative decision for the period 1–19 June 2026.
Movement restrictions will apply within the designated areas during the exercise, and the Defence Forces may temporarily close smaller roads. Residents of the exercise area will retain access to their properties throughout the exercise. Military vehicles and exercise troops will be operating in the area. Residents should be prepared to present valid identification. Operating drones and hunting are prohibited in the exercise area at all times.
General notification – Karelia Air Wing decision 20 April 2026 – Finnish Defence Forces
Access permits for the Tervo road base area
Traffic and movement restrictions will be in force in the Tervo road base area during the Ramstein Flag 26 flight operations from 7 to 14 June 2026. Residents and those requiring access for justified reasons may be granted permits based on an application submitted within the specified deadline.
Instructions for applying for access permits will be published during week 19 on the websites ilmavoimat.fi/karjalan-lennosto and tervo.fi.
Invitation to a public briefing for Tervo residents and media
Karelia Air Wing will host an information event for Tervo residents and the media.
Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 17:00
Location: Tervo Comprehensive School, Kirkkotie 5, 72210 Tervo
The event will cover general exercise arrangements, schedules, and instructions for applying for access permits.
Additional information: k[email protected]
