Battles at Äyräpää and Vuosalmi

The Red Army's advance was also halted in the July battles at Vuosalmi. Supported by artillery, the Finns held a bridgehead on the southern bank of the Vuoksi River at Äyräpää. Gaining time was crucial for improving the fortifications on the northern bank and transferring additional forces to the area. Maintaining control of the area was particularly important, as the high ridge of Äyräpää commanded a wide view far into the Vuosalmi area. The Soviet forces had a significant numerical and material superiority for their attack. However, the Finns, with the help of artillery, rendered a Soviet army corps incapable of attacking. Eventually, they had to withdraw to the north side of the Vuoksi, where the Red Army, with a new army corps, was able to establish a bridgehead. The battles in the bridgehead continued until July 17, 1944, when they subsided into trench warfare. The cooperation of infantry, indirect fire, and air forces enabled the success of the defense.

Finnish casualties in Äyräpää and Vuosalmi, including killed, missing, and wounded, amounted to approximately 6,300 men, while the Soviet Union suffered at least 15,000 casualties.  

Field Artillery in the Battle of Vuosalmi 

At Vuosalmi, too, the concentrated fire of Finnish artillery demonstrated its power. In the battles of Vuosalmi, the artillery fired a total of approximately 122,000 rounds, and mortars fired about 85,000 rounds. The firing activity was truly intense, as numerically there was less artillery than in Ihantala. The highest consumption was on July 9, when the Red Army, after its own artillery preparation of 30,000 shells, managed to cross the Vuoksi. During the day, Finnish artillery fired approximately 13,500 shells. Although the Red Army captured the bridgehead, the effect of Finnish indirect fire was devastating to the attacker in the concentrated area. The transports required for the bridgehead across the river under Finnish fire also caused heavy casualties.