Conscript killed in ATV accident during exercise in Kouvola

A conscript was killed in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident during an exercise at Karelia Brigade in Kouvola, a municipality in Southeastern Finland on Tuesday afternoon, Finnish Defence Forces and Police said.

The accident occurred at the Vekaranjärvi garrison during the daily training activities and the conscript died on the spot.

The authorities, however, did not divulge details about the accident and the identity of the victim.

The Defence Forces informed the family of the deceased about the accident.

The authority also offered crisis support and counselling to the squadmates following the death.

Meanwhile, the Finnish Defence Forces decided to honour the dead conscript through hoisting the flags at half-mast on Wednesday to mourn the death.

The South-Eastern Finland Police are investigating into the accident to find out the reason behind the death.

The conscripts need to drive ATV in a two-week course as a part of their training as Defence Forces uses ATV during war in various reasons, particularly to evacuate the wounded soldiers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo expressed condolence at the death of the conscript during the training.

“My condolences to the family, friends and other loved ones of the conscript who died in the accident in Vekaranjärvi,” the Premier wrote in a post on his social media platform X, who also expressed empathy to the fellow servicemen of the conscript and the entire garrison as well.