Finland: Russian agent network in the country has shrunk

Finland is reliably protecting itself from Russia’s destructive influence and aggression. It is now an official member of NATO. Also, official reports say that the influence of Russian agents is decreasing.

Image: Composite image shows Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. @Euronews

The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) reported that in 2022 it weakened Russia’s intelligence activities in the country. This is stated in the report of the service.

“The Russian intelligence station shrank to about half of its former size last year. The main reason for this decline was the expulsion of intelligence officers and visa refusals on the advice of Supo,” the agency’s chief, Antti Pelttari, said in a press release, YLE News reports.

According to Pelttari, the intelligence officers were working under diplomatic cover, and their activities were complicated by the fact that Finland has restricted entry to the country for Russians.

According to the head of SUPO, Russia began to use cyber espionage more actively in 2022 after the reduction of the intelligence service and the lack of agents.

Finland closed its border with Russia in September 2022 and reduced the number of visas issued to Russian citizens. The country has applied to join NATO along with Sweden amid Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. Before that, the two countries remained neutral and did not join any military alliances.

Finland’s application for NATO membership has been ratified by all members of the North Atlantic Alliance, paving the way for the country’s full membership in the bloc.

This was announced today on Twitter by Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

These steps – joining NATO and expelling Russian agents – are a logical necessity that will increase European security against the backdrop of growing tensions in Europe and ongoing Russian aggression.

The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed that they invaded Ukraine to prevent NATO from expanding. Well, now the common border between Russia and NATO has increased by 1300 kilometers.

Earlier it was reported that Germany plans to expel another 30 Russian diplomats.