NATO sources suggest Russia may be practicing attacks on Finland and NATO’s eastern flank, aiming for "historical territories" like the 18th-century empire. Threats include missile strikes on Helsinki and moves toward the Kymijoki River.
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NATO sources tell Iltalehti that Russia has been practicing an attack on Finland and other countries of NATO's eastern side.
Sources estimate that Russia would aim for the borders of the Peace of Turku from 1743. In that case, the Russian invasion forces would aim as far as Kymijoki. Further north, the objective of the attack would be Puumalansalmi.
The threat assessment estimates that Russia would like a buffer zone for itself:
- Russia's security thinking shows the pursuit of strategic depth and the effort to create a unified buffer zone in Europe, all the way from the Arctic region through the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.
According to NATO's threat assessment, Russian missile attacks would also target Helsinki. The Russians' main attack direction would be in the Baltics.
Vladimir Putin said in his annual propaganda speech on December 19 that Russia has "enough forces and means to restore all its historical territories".
Earlier, Putin has said that his ideal is the Russian Empire of the 18th century. Sources say that Putin's words should be taken literally. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania would be at risk, but also Southeastern Finland.