Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Tuesday that he was becoming more pessimistic about the security situation after monitoring developments in Finland and neighboring European countries, Anadolu Agency reported.
“I am more pessimistic,” Orpo told Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, saying Russia was acting aggressively and that recent incidents in several European countries needed to be viewed against the wider backdrop of possible sabotage and other hybrid operations.
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Orpo referred to incidents reported in Estonia, Bulgaria, Italy and Germany. Although authorities are investigating the cases separately, Finnish officials are also examining whether they could be connected to a broader campaign aimed at disrupting European support for Ukraine.
“I think we need to be prepared and vigilant, because Russia is clearly trying to escalate the situation,” Orpo said.
He argued that one of Moscow’s objectives is to intimidate countries providing military assistance to Ukraine and ultimately reduce the flow of weapons and other support to Kyiv.
But Orpo insisted that the strategy would not succeed.
“We must continue to offer Ukraine our strongest possible support for as long as necessary,” he said.
Finland’s intelligence assessments have also raised concerns about the possibility of sabotage on Finnish territory. Iltalehti reported that updated assessments from Finnish intelligence services indicate that Russian-linked sabotage operations are now considered more likely than previously.
According to sources cited by the newspaper, potential targets include arms shipments and weapons-production facilities, particularly factories manufacturing ammunition and drones for Ukraine.
Several recent incidents elsewhere in Europe have heightened concerns. They include an attempted arson attack in Tallinn targeting a company that produces autonomous ground-combat systems, an explosion at an ammunition depot in Bulgaria, a fire at a munitions factory in Italy and an explosive-laden drone attack targeting a Ukrainian transport aircraft in Germany.
Finnish intelligence sources have warned that a weapons or ammunition factory, or a weapons depot, could potentially become a target in Finland.
The concerns are particularly significant because Finland shares a 1,343-kilometer (834-mile) border with Russia — the longest land border with Russia held by any NATO or European Union member.
Finland’s security relationship with Russia is also shaped by its history. The Soviet Union invaded Finland in November 1939, beginning the Winter War, which lasted for more than three months. Although the Soviet Union ultimately prevailed, it suffered heavy losses during the conflict.
The latest warnings come as European governments remain increasingly focused on Russia’s use of covert tactics, sabotage and other forms of hybrid pressure alongside the war in Ukraine.
