The President of Finland called on citizens to prepare for possible acts of sabotage by Russia
Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged citizens to prepare for possible acts of sabotage and the appearance of drones in the country's airspace. At the same time, he emphasized that there is no reason to panic, and that the government and the Finnish Defense Forces have already stepped up measures to counter hybrid threats.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that the country’s citizens should be prepared for possible acts of sabotage and other hybrid threats. According to him, this goes beyond conventional warfare involving the use of weapons. Russia, according to Stubb, is simultaneously using other methods of pressure against European countries. “The first type is kinetic warfare, which we are currently witnessing between Ukraine and Russia. The second is hybrid warfare, which Russia is waging against Europe,” said the Finnish president.
Finns Warned About Drones
Stubb also urged citizens to be prepared for situations where drones might fly into Finnish territory. He noted that four drones have already crashed in the country since the beginning of 2026. The president did not specify who owned them or under what circumstances they ended up on Finnish territory.
According to Stubb, such incidents demonstrate that the country must be prepared for new types of threats. This includes not only potential attacks but also airspace violations, acts of sabotage, and other actions that could create tension in society.
Finland shares a border with Russia, so security remains a particularly important issue for the country. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Finland has also stepped up its focus on protecting its territory and critical infrastructure.
The President Urged People Not to Panic
At the same time, Stubb emphasized that citizens should not perceive every alarming signal as a reason to panic. According to him, Finnish authorities and the Defense Forces have already stepped up measures to counter hybrid threats. The country is also working to respond more quickly to the appearance of drones and other potentially dangerous situations. “There is no reason to panic,” Stubb emphasized.
The president urged Finns to remain calm and to approach the information they receive with caution. He also advised against jumping to conclusions based on isolated alarming reports. Stubb noted that society must be prepared for various scenarios, but at the same time, it is important not to let fear affect daily life.
Russia and Hybrid Threats
Stubb links potential acts of sabotage and other similar incidents to the broader confrontation between Russia and European countries. The term “hybrid warfare” typically refers to actions that are not limited to direct military operations. These can include cyberattacks, acts of sabotage, attempts to influence the information sphere, disruptions to critical infrastructure, or other actions aimed at creating instability.
The Finnish president stressed that European countries must take such risks into account and be prepared for them. At the same time, he emphasized that preparing for potential threats does not mean that the country is expecting an imminent attack. According to him, the government’s main task is to ensure the readiness of state institutions and protect the population. Stubb urged citizens to remain calm, follow official information, and not give in to panic over every new incident. This was reported by Yle.
The research institutes Etla and Labore have raised their forecast for Finland’s economic growth in 2026 to 1.7%. Previously, Labore had expected growth of 0.9%, while Etla had projected 1%.
