According to a review published by the Prime Minister's Office, Russia's communication regarding Finland became more hostile and mocking in 2025 compared to the previous year. The review, produced by the strategic communications team of the Prime Minister's Office's communications unit, monitors the information environment and prepares communication recommendations for government needs. This aggressive communication is a reaction to Finland strengthening its NATO cooperation and President Alexander Stubb's visible role in foreign and security policy discussions, which reportedly irritated Russia.
The review notes that Russia typically toughens its rhetoric toward opponents when its own situation becomes more difficult. The 2025 material is weighted toward Russian state sources and state media, which are key channels of influence for Russia. According to the review, Russia portrays NATO actions as a threat, exaggerates the alleged harms of sanctions on the West, uses great-power interpretations to justify its own military actions, and amplifies internal disagreements in Western countries to weaken alliances.
Information influencing is defined by the government as goal-oriented and planned activity aimed at influencing public opinion, behavior, and societal functioning. The Prime Minister's Office has also published the review in Russian. Separately, communications specialist Saara Jantunen-Paju states that the more aggressive communication is also a reaction to Finland's visible activity as part of NATO, and Russia's own weakened economic situation and the war's effects on society have led to attempts to divert attention elsewhere.
The review's findings come amid broader tensions, as Russia escalated warnings to Finland over NATO ties and nuclear weapons consideration in early 2026. On March 6, 2026, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that Finland's consideration of lifting a ban on hosting nuclear weapons would force Russia to take countermeasures and leads to an escalation of tension in Europe. This followed Finland's government announcement on March 5, 2026, of plans to amend its Nuclear Energy Act to allow hosting nuclear weapons, a move Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen stated is necessary for full alignment with NATO's deterrence policy.
The Kremlin's response frames Finland's actions as part of a broader European trend, with Russia similarly criticizing France's evolving nuclear posture. The Finnish proposal is set to go to parliament in early April 2026, where the governing coalition holds a majority. The review's analysis of Russia's communication tactics in 2025 provides context for these escalated warnings, highlighting how Russia's rhetoric hardens in response to perceived challenges.
Russia's portrayal of NATO as a threat and its amplification of Western disagreements align with its response to Finland's NATO integration. The use of state media as a key channel of influence supports the review's focus on official Russian sources. The definition of information influencing as goal-oriented activity underscores the strategic nature of Russia's communication.
The publication of the review in Russian may aim to counter Russian narratives directly. The correlation between Russia's weakened economic situation and its communication tactics toward Finland is noted by Jantunen-Paju. The review's timing, covering 2025, precedes the 2026 nuclear weapons debate, suggesting a continuous pattern of heightened rhetoric.
Finland's NATO membership, finalized in 2023, has been a focal point in bilateral relations, with Russia viewing it as a security threat. President Alexander Stubb, who took office in 2024, has emphasized a strong NATO alignment, contributing to Russia's irritation. The Prime Minister's Office's strategic communications team plays a role in monitoring such influences to inform government responses.
The review's findings are based on analysis of Russian state sources, reflecting the government's effort to understand and address information campaigns. As Finland moves forward with its nuclear policy review, the insights from this report may guide its communication strategies in navigating relations with Russia.