Finland: Worse security situation after the war in Ukraine, Supo warns

In its annual overview, Finland's equivalent of Säpo identifies Russia as the biggest intelligence threat, Finnish media report.

Intelligence and influence resources that Russia is now using against Ukraine could be redirected towards other targets after the war, Supo fears. At the same time, Supo fears that Russian distrust of the West and the country's great-power ambitions will persist.

Areas such as the Baltic Sea and the Arctic are also becoming increasingly important for Russia, and therefore its interest in Finland, according to Supo, which warns against too rapid a withdrawal of sanctions against Russia.

If relations between the West and Russia improve, there is a risk that Russia will spread its methods.

These include the extensive use of proxy actors and intelligence gathering from bases on Russian soil, says Juha Martelius, head of Supo.