More than 20 Finnish MPs have reported break-ins at their homes – with one politician citing someone pooing in his bathroom.

Russia has since been accused of sending secret agents to defecate, break in and mess with the belongings of Finnish politicians.

One MP, Ben Zyskowicz, said: ‘It’s a way for the Russian intelligence service to show that people are being monitored, a way to create confusion or concerns.’

The practice has been previously linked to Russian agents – the US State Department has documented multiple home intrusions where agents move around belongings, open windows and try to ‘intimidate’ their targets.

Finnish Parliament Speaker Jussi Halla-aho said the number of cases was ‘significant’.

Russia has been increasing its ‘hybrid warfare’ tactics since Finland joined NATO in 2023.

By joining the world’s largest security alliance, Finland lengthened NATO’s border with Russia by almost 1,000 miles.

In the years following, Russia responded by increasing barracks, military aircraft and other infrastructure at locations along its border with Finland.

In Kamenka, around 35 miles from Finnish territory, some 130 installations capable of housing 2,000 troops were set up since February 2025.

Finland has also moved to strengthen its defences and is currently setting up a new NATO forward command centre in Lapland.

In 2023, the Finnish government closed its border with Russia after the Kremlin sent an influx of ‘refugees’ into the country.

Joel Linnainmäki, a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told in 2025 that since the border closed, there’s been little to report – but the Finnish government is still wary of Russian movement nearby. 

‘There’s been very little activity, just some individuals attempting to cross,’ he says. ‘It doesn’t appear that it’s going to be open anytime soon, and the government is very careful and suspicious as well.’

Though Putin is flexing his muscles on the border with Finland, Joel said there are simply not enough resources for the country to focus on bolstering its presence until the war in Ukraine ends. 

But slowly, Russia is re-establishing the Leningrad military district for defensive capabilities – likely in hopes of using it for an offensive if they have the ability to do so in the future.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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