Evacuation of Vaasa
Pentagon officials state that as Russian ground
forces began mobilizing from the Russian military
base at Novogrod, a series of emergency air flights
were ordered to evacuate US military personnel
stationed at the Vaasa air base to the north west of
Helsinki.
“Once we saw the situation deteriorate, we sent
multiple heavy-lifting aircraft from Ramstein to get
our people out of Finland and out of harm’s way. I
am happy to report that all personnel are out of the
area safely.”
The fate of Europeans and American citizens in
Finland are less clear.
The attack forced the closure of all commercial
flights in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany,
stranding tens of thousands.
Reportedly, over 3,000 civilians are still trapped at
the Helsinki airport with “hundreds” of deaths
reported as a result of the air strikes and battle for
the airport that occurred only hours ago.
Russian T-90 tank
sits near the
tarmac at Helsinki
airport
US Sponsored Talks in Brussels Fail
The Russian attack took place simultaneously to
US-brokered talks between Russian and Finnish
officials in Brussels. Upon news of the attack, the
meeting immediately ended.
“It is obvious that Russia used the meeting as a ploy
to divert our attention,” said a US State Department
spokesperson. “Russia talked of resolving the issue
while their military was on the move. This was a
cold, brutal and calculated move.”
World Reaction
News of the Russian attack reverberated throughout
the world with over 120 countries denouncing the
invasion.
“I’m stunned,” said Spain’s UN ambassador.
“Stunned that Russia has returned to the old days of
waging war and terror.”
“I grew up at the tail end of the Cold War,” said one
official from Ireland. “I thought it was over. I
thought the possibility of a world war was over.
Sadly, Russia has proved us wrong.”
Although a large portion of the UN assembly has
denounced the attack, as of this morning, no country
has taken the step to declare open war with Russia.
But as one UN official puts it: “this may be the calm
before the storm.”
US Response
In reaction to the attack, the US military has gone
on its “highest level of military readiness”.
According to sources, the 1st Rapid Reaction Team
out of Fort Hood, Texas has already left for
Keflavik, Iceland “in case Russia makes a move on
the North Atlantic”.
Other RRTs are in “deployment mode” but no
further movements have been reported.
The White House issued a strong statement in
reaction to the attack in a press conference 30
minutes ago:
“Russia has worked hard over the past 15 years to
eliminate its sins of the past. This attack on Finland
could undo all that has been done to bring stability
to Europe and threatens all countries that work
toward freedom.
To avoid escalating this crisis, Russia must,
unconditionally, cease all hostilities and leave
Finland within the next 48 hours.”
Since the attack, there has been no official statement
from the Kremlin which has many insiders worried
that perhaps President Putin is not in control of the
current situation.
“The next 72 hours is going to be on the scale of the
Cuban Missile Crisis,” said one White House
official. “I pray this isn’t the start of world war 3.”
