Finnish agency warns of Russian threats to critical systems

The Finnish Internal Security and Counter-Intelligence Agency, Supo, alerts of a possible rise in threats from Russia to essential infrastructure after the war with Ukraine ends. Juha Martelius, the head of Supo, notes that Russian agents are almost daily attempting to identify vulnerabilities in Finnish IT systems.

Russia is gathering information to possibly strike in the future if needed, said Martelius, as quoted by the Polish Press Agency.

In the summer of 2024, there were a series of break-ins at water infrastructure facilities in Finland, which led to speculation about potential sabotage by Russia. However, police investigations ruled out any clandestine diversionary operations. Martelius highlights that Russia uses its informational influence to sow uncertainty and anxiety among people.

In recent months, there have been several instances of transmission cable disruptions in the Gulf of Finland. Although ships from the Russian shadow fleet are suspected, the Finnish government has not directly attributed the incidents to Russia. In the case of damage to the Estonian-Finnish EstLink 2 power cable involving the suspected tanker Eagle S, no evidence was found of intentional action or links to Russia.

Even if the investigation reveals deliberate action, it cannot be conclusively stated that a state entity was responsible, added Martelius.

Reports from Supo indicate that Russian intelligence is interested not only in critical infrastructure but also in the activities of Finnish authorities and their decisions regarding foreign and security policy. Finnish authorities remain vigilant, monitoring the situation and preparing for any potential threats.