61 of 88    BREAKING NEWS: Russia Invades Finland USANN Correspondent Michael O’Neil October 6th, 2004 London Russian forces launch full-scale invasion of Finland, seizing Helsinki and forcing the collapse of the Finnish government through a 2-pronged ground and amphibious assault. The fear over a possible conflict between Russia and Finland were realized on October 6th with the stunning news of a lightening attack by Russian special forces during the last 20 hours. According to sources within Helsinki, at approximately 6 p.m. EST (1:00a.m. Finnish time) key Finnish air bases were struck by attacking Russian fighter/bombers, followed shortly after by a full-scale ground offensive near the city of Hamina near the Russian border. Finnish tank rushes to the fighting near Kotka, Finland As Finnish ground and air units moved toward Kotka to halt the Russian advance, a “sizable” number of Russian Spetsnaz special forces landed south-west of Helsinki in a bold amphibious assault on the capital city.  Sources within the Pentagon who have been closely watching the situation indicate that the overall attack force “consists of over 30,000 infantry troops, 22,000 special forces, well over a thousand tanks and artillery units and a few hundred aircraft.” Helsinki airport under attack by Russian fighter aircraft Finland Taken by Surprise Although the Russian force is small in relation to the overall size of the Russian military, the speed of the organization and advance of the attack took the Finnish military by surprise. As the highway between Kotka and Hamina became jammed with Finnish armored units rushing to a hastily prepared defense at Hamina, the rear-attack on Helsinki by crack Spetsnaz troops split the Finnish defense as units turned back, which led to disaster for the Finish military. “We can’t get our units from the north here quick enough,” said one Finnish military official. “Russian air strikes are slowing them down near Kuopio and by the time they get here, we’re done.” By mid-afternoon, Russian ground forces were within 8 kilometers of Helsinki’s city centre and Spetsnaz troops seized dozens of key locations throughout the city, including the airport. Russian special forces guarding terminal at Helsinki airport As nightfall approached, Russian ground forces had “linked up” with forces operating in the city and within hours, an announcement was made over broadcast television that the Finnish government had dissolved and fled the city.