This paper makes three contributions to the contemporary debate on Russian hybrid operations and subversion in Europe. First, it conceptualises embedded influence as the gradual, long-term shaping of another state’s strategic environment through political, economic and societal relationships in which dependencies are created and opportunities for influence emerge. Much of this interaction is legitimate, but Russia embeds manipulative and deceptive elements within these relationships to shape perceptions, incentives and decision-making in the target state. Second, it explains how embedded influence interacts with shorter-term coercive hybrid operations. Third, the publication illustrates the mechanisms linking these two levels of Russian influence through concrete examples observed in Finland.
The paper argues that Russia’s influence in Finland was often most effective when exercised through embedded influence rather than coercive hybrid operations. Drawing on more than two decades of evidence – including interviews with key participants in policy processes – it analyses how embedded influence and hybrid operations interacted, why some forms of Russian influence succeeded while others failed, and what lessons the Finnish case offers for strengthening European resilience against Russian influence.
