Nato military exercises, scheduled to begin in Finland on Friday 26 April, have been criticised by Russian officials.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said last month that the exercises, especially those that take place in the Nordic region, send a message to Russia that the defence alliance has the ability to act if a member country were attacked.
On Wednesday the exercises were described by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as "provocative in nature".
Finland applied to join the Nato alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Hosting or partaking in military drills are a regular feature of Nato membership.
Throughout this spring, the Finnish Defence Forces will host a series of military exercises and drills alongside other Nato members.
"A significant number of soldiers from the nations of the alliance will participate in training the defence of Finland," according to a press release by the Finnish Ministry of Defence.
In comments reported by Russia's state news agency RIA on Wednesday, Zakharova noted that the drills will take place in close proximity to the Russian-Finnish border.
"Nato military exercises near the Russian borders are provocative in nature. Their task is to exert military pressure on the Russian Federation through a demonstration of force," Zakharova said.
She added that the drills "increase the risks of possible military incidents."
Earlier this week, Russia said it had established a brigade equipped with the Iskander-M ballistic missile system in the Republic of Karelia, a Russian region which shares an extensive border with Finland, describing the move as an 'adequate response' to Finland joining Nato.
