In 2025, Russian sabotage linked to state actors in Europe decreased compared to 2024 but continued via proxy actors recruited mainly through social media such as Telegram. The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service notes the risk of Finnish citizens being recruited, especially individuals with criminal or disadvantaged backgrounds or pro-Russian sympathies. Recruitment involves intermediary layers to conceal Russian intelligence links, offering small paid tasks escalating from minor graffiti to arson. Proxy saboteurs operate internationally, sometimes crossing European borders. Russian military intelligence (GRU) supervises these operations closely. Evidence such as video recordings is required for payments. Western security services quickly investigate sabotage, increasing risk of apprehension for proxies, who are considered disposable by Russia and receive no support if caught. Punishments abroad include long prison sentences for offenses like foreign state benefit or terrorism, and Finnish authorities have limited consular assistance abilities. Finland has not been a direct target of sabotage yet, but the threat persists.

In 2025, Russian sabotage linked to state actors in Europe decreased compared to 2024 but continued via proxy actors recruited mainly through social media such as Telegram. The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service notes the risk of Finnish citizens being recruited, especially individuals with criminal or disadvantaged backgrounds or pro-Russian sympathies. Recruitment involves intermediary layers to conceal Russian intelligence links, offering small paid tasks escalating from minor graffiti to arson. Proxy saboteurs operate internationally, sometimes crossing European borders. Russian military intelligence (GRU) supervises these operations closely. Evidence such as video recordings is required for payments. Western security services quickly investigate sabotage, increasing risk of apprehension for proxies, who are considered disposable by Russia and receive no support if caught. Punishments abroad include long prison sentences for offenses like foreign state benefit or terrorism, and Finnish authorities have limited consular assistance abilities. Finland has not been a direct target of sabotage yet, but the threat persists.