Investigation Reveals How Kremlin Messages Are Disguised in Finland

A new report shows how Russian propaganda is hidden inside Finnish-language websites to influence public opinion.

A recent investigation has uncovered how Russia spreads its messages in Finland. The findings show that a small network of Finnish-language websites is working to share Kremlin-friendly stories with Finnish readers. These sites try to make Russian propaganda look like normal Finnish news.

What Is "Information Laundering"?

The report describes a method called "information laundering." This means that messages from Russian state media are changed and repackaged so that people cannot easily see where they came from. The original Russian source becomes hidden as the message passes through many different websites.

Which Websites Are Involved?

The investigation names several Finnish websites that spread these messages. They include MV-lehti, UVMedia, Murkut.org, Naapuriseura, and Magneettimedia. There is also a Finnish-language site that is part of a larger international network called Pravda or Portal Kombat.

These websites work in different ways. Some publish material directly from Russian state media and Telegram channels. Others present the same ideas as "geopolitical analysis." Some simply collect and share content from other sites in the network.

What Messages Are Being Spread?

The messages are not simply translated into Finnish. They are adapted to fit Finnish political discussions about NATO, the EU, immigration, the economy, and trust in the media.

The propaganda presents Russia's war in Ukraine as a result of Western or NATO actions. NATO and the EU are shown as the ones causing the conflict. Finland is described as a country that has lost its independence because of its NATO membership and defence cooperation with the United States.

Another important goal is to make people distrust the media, authorities, and other institutions.

Why Finland Is a Target

Finland has a strong reputation for resisting foreign information manipulation. The country has high levels of media literacy, strong public trust in institutions, and good education. However, even a resilient society is not completely safe.

The investigation notes that while the audiences for these websites are small compared to major Finnish news outlets, they still spread a stable set of Kremlin narratives. Together, these sites get around one million monthly views in Finland.

Not All Actors Are Directly Controlled

The report does not claim that all these websites are directly controlled from Moscow. It says that a decentralised network of actors can reinforce the same messages even without direct organisational control.

A Growing Concern

The Finnish government has also noticed this problem. A recent overview from the Prime Minister's Office says that Russia's messaging about Finland became more hostile in 2025. This is seen as a reaction to Finland's stronger cooperation within NATO.

Experts say that Russia uses many tools to influence other countries, including the internet, propaganda, disinformation, and financial pressure. The investigation in Finland shows one important part of this wider effort.