Swedish Firms Linked to Russian State and Mafia Uncovered

Several companies in Sweden can be linked to the Russian state and Russian mafia, according to an investigation by the research company Acta Publica and the Defence University, which Sveriges Radio reports on.

» Published: March 26 2025

Swedish Firms Linked to Russian State and Mafia Uncovered
Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Kreml via AP/TT

Share this article

We're talking about oligarchs, we're talking about people who conduct business with high-ranking Russian individuals. Then we also find companies with ties to Russian organized crime, says Veronica Netz, researcher at Acta publica, to Sveriges Radio Ekot.

The investigation has been conducted by taking a closer look at the ownership structure of 124 companies that have previously been revealed to have Russian connections.

This is just scratching the surface, in relation to Russian companies and Russian interests in Sweden. If we were to conduct a quantitative investigation to expand this process, we would find an enormous amount more, says Jörgen Holmlund, teacher in intelligence analysis at the Defence University, to the radio.

The Russian state apparatus often uses companies and corporate fronts to gather information and intelligence, and according to Holmlund, there is a close connection between Russian organized crime and the state.

Corrected: In an earlier version of the text, an incorrect figure was given for the number of companies with ties to Russia.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Blood Moon Visible Across Sweden and Europe Tonight
1 MIN READ

Blood Moon Visible Across Sweden and Europe Tonight

Colorful Bee-Eater Among New Bird Species in Sweden
3 MIN READ

Colorful Bee-Eater Among New Bird Species in Sweden

VMA Alert Issued After Fire at Hässleholm Waste Facility
1 MIN READ

VMA Alert Issued After Fire at Hässleholm Waste Facility

Norrland Coast Rainstorm Leaves Residents Stranded and Roads Washed Away
2 MIN READ

Norrland Coast Rainstorm Leaves Residents Stranded and Roads Washed Away

Hand Grenade Neutralized at Hörby Industrial Site
1 MIN READ

Hand Grenade Neutralized at Hörby Industrial Site

Taxi Parade Causes Major Traffic Jams in Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Taxi Parade Causes Major Traffic Jams in Stockholm

Suspicious Package in Kristianstad Deemed Harmless by Police
1 MIN READ

Suspicious Package in Kristianstad Deemed Harmless by Police

Left Party Leader Nooshi Dadgostar Dismisses Division Concerns
2 MIN READ

Left Party Leader Nooshi Dadgostar Dismisses Division Concerns

Fatal Train and Car Collision Near Åre Under Investigation
1 MIN READ

Fatal Train and Car Collision Near Åre Under Investigation

Left Party Criticizes Government for Neglecting Norrland's Needs
2 MIN READ

Left Party Criticizes Government for Neglecting Norrland's Needs

Drone Releases Color Over Russian Embassy in Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Drone Releases Color Over Russian Embassy in Stockholm

Baltic Sea's First Marine National Park Opens in Stockholm Archipelago
4 MIN READ

Baltic Sea's First Marine National Park Opens in Stockholm Archipelago

Suspected Object in Solna Confirmed Harmless by Bomb Squad
1 MIN READ

Suspected Object in Solna Confirmed Harmless by Bomb Squad

Jessica Stegrud Responds to Criticism Over Controversial Tweet
2 MIN READ

Jessica Stegrud Responds to Criticism Over Controversial Tweet

Derailed Trains in Sweden Disrupt Traffic for Weeks
3 MIN READ

Derailed Trains in Sweden Disrupt Traffic for Weeks

Person Arrested After Alby Subway Shooting South of Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Person Arrested After Alby Subway Shooting South of Stockholm

Car Falls into Road Crack After Heavy Rain in Härnösand
2 MIN READ

Car Falls into Road Crack After Heavy Rain in Härnösand

Children Risk Lives for Status: Police Warn of Brutal Injuries
3 MIN READ

Children Risk Lives for Status: Police Warn of Brutal Injuries

Liberals' National Meeting on Sweden Democrats Sparks Political Debate
4 MIN READ

Liberals' National Meeting on Sweden Democrats Sparks Political Debate

Defence to Review Semiconductor Supply Vulnerabilities
1 MIN READ

Defence to Review Semiconductor Supply Vulnerabilities