This research project examines the different means, goals and impacts of Russia’s full-spectrum interference on Finland during the 2000s. The project is a part of the Finnish Government’s analysis, assessment, and research activities (VN TEAS).
Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022 reshaped Finnish security policy and society. The war in Ukraine led to a change in Finnish security policy principles and to an active discussion on Finland’s relationship with Russia. The need to examine Russia’s influence on Finland after the Cold War on a deeper level became evident. This project aims to respond to this need and answer the following research questions:
- What have been the central goals and means of Russia’s full-spectrum influence on Finland?
- How does Russia’s current influencing differ from the influencing practiced by the Soviet Union, as well as from Russia’s influencing against other countries?
- How successful has the full-spectrum influencing been?
- What can be learnt from the Russian influence operations in Finland and Finland’s responses to them?
- How might Russia’s influencing develop in the future? How can Finland and Europe more effectively protect themselves from it?
The goal is to contribute to Finnish public and expert discussions on the topic by producing high-quality analysis based on research. The project aids to strengthen the abilities of Finnish citizens and authorities to recognize the different forms of full-spectrum interference, and to develop ways to reject influence in the future.
The project is led by FIIA’s Leading Researcher Sinikukka Saari. FIIA’s Senior Research Fellow Jussi Lassila, Matti Pesu and Margarita Zavadskaya, Programme Director Harri Mikkola, Postdoctoral Fellow Kristiina Silvan and Senior Specialist Anu Ruokamo work in the project. The project’s research team also includes Professor Juhana Aunesluoma of the University of Helsinki; Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen (Aleksanteri Institute) and Associate Professor Katri Pynnöniemi (Aleksanteri Institute) of the University of Helsinki; as well as Professor Tuomas Forsberg of Tampere University. The project’s research has also been supported by Postdoctoral Researcher Mika Perkiömäki (Aleksanteri Institute) and Research Assistant Santeri Berg from the University of Helsinki; Research Assistant Henrik Rantala from Tampere University; and Dr Teemu Oivo.
The project started in January 2025 and ends in December 2025. The final report will be published in Finnish in January 2026.