A conscript suffered a gunshot wound to the head on Thursday morning at a rifle shooting range of the Kainuu Brigade, in the town of Kajaani, according to the brigade.
The conscript received first aid care at the shooting range and was transported to the Kuopio University Hospital for treatment.
The injured conscript was taking part in rifle shooting practice at the range, with a group of other conscripts from the 3rd Jaeger Company, according to the brigade, which added that no other individuals were involved in the incident.
There is a high probability that the incident was accidental, according to Lieutenant Colonel Arto Hirvelä, who added that an investigation was ongoing.
"The brigade's work and service safety manager are continuing to investigate the course of events. These kinds of gunshot injuries are rare," Hirvelä said.
One aim of these kinds of investigations is to see whether there are corrective measures that could be taken to improve shooting range drills, according to Hirvelä.
The Lieutenant Colonel said that crisis support will be offered to conscripts at the brigade "for as long as necessary."
The police are investigating the incident, according to the brigade.
Edited at 17:59 to add that police are investigating and to clarify that the Kainuu Brigade issued a statement about the incident, not the Finnish Defence Forces.