Colonel Tomi Pekurinen appointed Commander of the Karelia Brigade

The Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, presented the unit flag of the Karelia Brigade to Colonel Tomi Pekurinen on Monday, 15 December. Colonel Pekurinen will assume his duties as Commander of the Karelia Brigade on 1 January 2026.

Colonel Tomi Pekurinen transfers to the position of Brigade Commander from the Kainuu Brigade, where he has served as Deputy Commander.

The change-of-command ceremony was celebrated at the Karelia Brigade in Vekaranjärvi on Monday, 15 December, following traditional customs.

Colonel Pekurinen stated that he accepts the position with pride and is pleased to return to a familiar unit. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of trust between personnel and conscripts as a key element of conscript training.

Brigade General Jyri Raitasalo, who is transferring from the position of Brigade Commander to the Defence Command, thanked the personnel and conscripts of the Karelia Brigade in his own address.