Finnish citizens report surge in suspicious activities related to critical infrastructure

Finnish citizens report thousands of suspicious activities related to critical infrastructure to police and authorities every year. The number of reports surged significantly in early 2022, following Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine, and the trend continues. This year, the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) has received more than double the reports compared to the period before the full-scale war. By early autumn, reports had increased by about ten percent compared to the previous year.

Notably, more owners and operators of critical infrastructure, such as energy company Fortum, have been reporting numerous cyberattacks and suspicious movements. Reports typically involve observations of individuals, vehicles, or drones near critical infrastructure like water or electricity facilities. Authorities have also received reports of photo-taking, break-ins, or vandalism at these sites.

Supo emphasizes that the increase in reports does not necessarily reflect the actual threat level; heightened awareness following global events may result in more reports of vandalism and other nuisances. Mikko Eränen from the National Bureau of Investigation states that multiple preliminary investigations regarding critical infrastructure are ongoing, although serious scenarios have not materialized thus far.

Protection of critical infrastructure primarily falls on the owners. The police have intensified monitoring of security, critical infrastructure, and supply security since the onset of the invasion and are working in coordination with other authorities including the Defense Forces and Border Guard. They encourage citizens to report any unusual activities, as even seemingly trivial observations can be significant when combined with existing intelligence.

In emergencies, individuals should immediately call emergency services at 112 and provide detailed information about the incident.