SECRET
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DEFENSE PENTAGON, WASHINGTON, DC
02 JUNE 2021
(S) Local History and Profile of Oviaukko Island
(S)
(U) Local History(U) Oviaukko Island is a semi-autonomous region of Finland, situated approximately 280km north of the Åland Islands in the Gulf of Bothnia. Oviaukko Island is believed to have originally been settled by Vikings in the early 1000's when the island was used as little more than a resupply point. Due to fertile soil, a stable climate, and a calm Bothnian sea, early Vikings saw quick success in agricultural and fishing endeavors on and around the island. Any competing fleets would be likely distracted by the hillforts and geographical spread of the Åland Islands, with little evidence of early conflict this far north in the Gulf.
(U) With an area just shy of 500km2, and with a predominant focus on agriculture, the island doesn't have the economical power (or desire) to be completely independent. Since the Åland Islands dispute in 1921, Oviaukko has established itself as a consistent stopover on trading routes inside the Baltic Sea, providing workforce and supplies to passing vessels. Russian plans to build another gas pipeline into Northern Europe have started to raise concerns with locals about the risk of the island becoming of strategic value.
(U) Most of Oviaukko's 10,000 residents never leave the island, and if they do it's only on short journeys to the mainland for medical or legal reasons. There is a small percentage of the population who work as seafarers on passing transient fleets. The local businesses, and a very healthy trade economy, are more than enough to accommodate all the people of the island who choose to live in this partial isolation. This proved to be a real benefit in the many conflicts of the last century where the island has been undisturbed by all parties involved.
(U) Following the hostile takeover of Crimea back in 2014, Russia has been showing more and more interest in adjacent strategic provinces. Two TU-160s were reported making flyovers as recently as the start of May 2021. The jets remained in Baltic & Scandinavian airspace for over 2 hours before being successfully escorted back to Russian airspace.
(U) It is important to note that Oviaukko people value their quiet way of life and relative lack of involvement in the world stage. Any military action on Oviaukko must minimize the impact on civilian peoples, structures, and infrastructure.
(S) Regional Profile
(S) Oviaukko people tend to operate in smaller, tight-knit communities centered around the major residential and commercial centers on the island, with large portions of the island being used as agricultural space and sparsely inhabited. As an initial briefing, this report will focus efforts on these major centers, with more detailed intelligence to follow as relevant to Task Forces operating in any given area.
(S) The capital city of Roenne is dominated by a major port and large industrial area and features a modestly sized, but heavily greenscaped, residential area. The city backs onto rolling hills and easy major transit networks making it a key thoroughfare for residents and trade alike, especially for residents of several nearby villages - such as Moellevangen and Nylars. Although the port is key to trade on the island, its age is discernible due to very tight wave breaks around the port access - making docking for larger ships a complex affair. The city's history as a Viking hub is emphasized by the wide variety of shipwrecks around the harbor, another factor in already complex shipping routes. The city features the island's only sports stadium, and one of only a few major hospitals. As the city has grown in popularity, it has become supported by a newly renovated airport- which has served as the hub for which most of the Russian contractors and paramilitary personnel have utilized to fly in construction and logistical supplies to support natural gas processing infrastructure being built. Air traffic monitoring has indicated regular flights of both commercial and military aircraft, mostly Russian in origin and destination- and of both fixed and rotary-wing in operation. This supports a working theory that the Russian military- either by, with, or through the Safe Asia military contractors- has essentially isolated the island, and current information is known regarding the number or status of Finnish civilians or host nation personnel on the island itself is extremely limited.
(U) Due to its position between Roenne, Nexoe, and the coastline, Aakirkeby is a rapidly expanding population hub, servicing the surrounding agricultural land through industrial, governmental, and medical facilities. As the facilities of Aakirkeby expand, an increasing percentage of nearby primary producers are choosing to transit their goods through this smaller town, avoiding a lot of the tough deal-makers of the capital, as the more relaxed approach of Aakirkeby is seen to be more traditionally inline with the Oviaukko way of life.
(U) The once-thriving town of Nexoe is facing a sharp economic downturn after its drydocking and container loading facility suffered sudden, and severe, shoreline degradation - forcing the facility to be closed for an extended period for repairs. The moderately sized town is home to a relatively dense, and isolated, population - most of whom now face long commutes to work. A nearby general aviation airfield facilities a level of fly-in/fly-out work on the mainland. The exact cause of the sudden degradation of the port facility has not been publicized by local media - the port is known to have been busier than normal since Russian influence first started applying pressure on local governments - but it's not expected that ordinary use, regardless of the level of increase, would have been sufficient to cause this level of damage.
(S) One of the original settlements on the island, the town of Svaneke is often viewed as the capital by locals despite Roenne's standing. Its natural wave breaks have been strengthened over years to allow slightly larger docking, however, it remains without major docking capability. The population has naturally settled over a wide area to take in coastal views from the calm northern aspect with a new highrise construction to the west of town proving to be controversial to the older, more traditional, population base. A major local employer is "Joboland" - a popular tourist attraction in peak season - supported by a nearby general aviation airstrip and docking through Svaneke. The airstrip itself appears to have been shut down & controlled by security contractors, operating under Safe Asia to support Russia's surveying and subsequent construction of fracking infrastructure for natural gas extraction. This airstrip represents a strong likelihood of being utilized as a rapid staging area for security personnel operating on the island, as well as a means of extraction for contractors in any attempt to flee the island via aircraft.
(U) The recent addition of a gas processing facility to Gudhjem has come at significant disapproval of locals and is starting to place real strain upon the local government office. The sea-front town is absent of any other significant industry and serves primarily as a vacation base for holidaymakers, seasonal workers for nearby primary production land, and a large number of retired and semi-retired citizens. This has left the town mayor caught between the newly discovered gas interests, and an already fragile local economy.
(U) Klemensker is a populace hub for the island's power plants - and associated wind turbine developments - and primary production workforce from surrounding farmland. Klemensker has always been a tight-knit community with a shared desire to retain Oviaukko's quiet way of life. Driven by an increase in demand for power exports to the mainland, Klemensker has been undergoing minor expansion.
(U) Hasle is in the midst of a rapid expansion to facilitate Russian interest - with gas processing and storage facilities, a new hospital, and new administration buildings already completed, the town is also set to gain an expansive port facility and higher density residential development. Although initially opposed to the idea, locals are now enjoying economic growth and diversity of career opportunities in the area, and are now engaging fully with the expansion.
Classified By: S-2 Operations Command
Reason: 1.4(a)
Declassify On: 20360602END REPORT
