Russia's intelligence activity is the main threat to Finland's security, according to the annual report of the Finnish Security Service (SUPO), cited by AFP and BTA.
According to the Finnish security service, Russia, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Finland, treats its neighbor as a "hostile state and a target for espionage and malicious influence." "While counterintelligence work, the expulsion of intelligence officials and a strict visa policy have allowed Finland to weaken over the past year the conditions" favoring Russian intelligence, "intelligence operations remain a threat," the intelligence agency added in a statement. /p>
Finland's vital infrastructure and cyberspace activities are most likely to be targeted by Russian operations, warns SUPO.
Illustrating the sensitivity of this infrastructure, last October an underwater gas pipeline connecting Finland to Estonia was damaged by an anchor from a Chinese ship, according to Finnish police.
Russia will also continue to "instrumentalize immigration" to show "its dissatisfaction with Finland's NATO membership,", SUPO believes.
In November, Finland closed all its border crossings with Russia to stem the flow of asylum seekers, which Finnish authorities described as a "hybrid attack" organized by the neighboring country. "This is a long-term threat, an easy way for Russia to keep Finland on its toes," said Teemu Turanen, acting head of SUPO, quoted in the communique.
The border will remain closed until at least April 14. The Finnish government is also preparing a bill that would allow it to "restrict the acceptance of applications for international protection" in certain areas.
Although several European countries warned of an increased terrorist threat last year, the Finnish agency said it maintains its terrorist threat level at level two on a four-point scale and expects it to remain so throughout the year.