Helsinki
Finland has built about 200 kilometers of barriers along its border with Russia at a cost of €356 million. The system includes fences, cameras, and sensors.
Oslo Airport will not operate for five hours on August 23 due to an air traffic controllers’ strike. More than 70 Norwegian flights have been canceled.
Russia is asking Finland to temporarily ban demonstrations near the embassy during the elections to the State Duma. Moscow expects protests abroad.
On August 12, the 51st edition of the UEFA Super Cup between PSG and Aston Villa will take place in Salzburg. The Parisians could become the second team after Real Madrid to win the trophy twice in a row.
Russian military hastily erects hangars and barracks on deforested areas. This is the Kremlin's reaction to Finland's accession to NATO.
Under Helsinki, there is a network of over 5,500 bomb shelters capable of sheltering nearly a million people in the event of a nuclear attack or Russian invasion. The shelters are equipped with autonomous systems and are used in peacetime as sports complexes.
The Finnish Parliament has authorized the import and possession of nuclear weapons for defense purposes. The country is strengthening its deterrence due to threats and integration into NATO.
The Finnish government will extend the law on combating instrumentalized migration. The situation on the border with the Russian Federation remains tense due to the high risk of provocations.
The Finnish Defence Forces did not detect any drones in their airspace. Despite this, authorities suspended air traffic and advised citizens to remain cautious.
Due to a drone incursion in Finland, the airspace was closed and Helsinki Airport was shut down. The Air Force scrambled fighter jets, while an alert was issued in Latvia.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen confirmed Ukraine's right to self-defense and strikes against Russia. Helsinki is developing a drone defense system after a UAV crash.
Finland's Minister of Defense initiates a review of the targeted use of weapons purchased by Europe. Helsinki opposes redirecting aid to a war with Iran.
Due to loss of drone control, airport operations were halted for 20 minutes. One plane was diverted to Helsinki, while others waited in the air.
The Finnish Paralympic Committee refused to participate in the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Paralympics. This decision is a protest against the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitions under national symbols.
Last year, Russia's energy revenues decreased by 20% compared to 2024. This was due to increasing discounts on Russian oil and low global prices, which intensified pressure on the country's economy.
Finnish authorities have lifted the arrest of the vessel Fitburg, which was detained on suspicion of sabotaging the Helsinki-Estonia telecommunications cable. Police have completed their work on board, but some crew members are prohibited from leaving Finland.
Finnish police are investigating damage to a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn. The cargo ship Fitburg, en route from St. Petersburg, dragged its anchor along the seabed, severing the communication line.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas announced the strengthening of critical infrastructure after damage to underwater cables between Estonia and Finland. The EU will invest in new cables, enhance surveillance, and counter Moscow's shadow fleet.
A 23-year-old Ukrainian was detained at Okęcie Airport with a device that jams air communication frequencies. He was taken into custody after suspicious behavior and refusal to explain himself.
Finnish police detained the cargo ship "Fitburg", which was en route from St. Petersburg to Israel. It is suspected of sabotaging an underwater telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Estonia.
Damage to the underwater telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn was recorded on December 31, 2025. Finnish police are investigating the incident, having identified a vessel with a dropped anchor chain in Finland's exclusive economic zone.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Brussels. The leaders discussed the coordination of positions regarding the negotiation process with Donald Trump's team and the importance of involving Europe to guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty.
The US President called the bloc's members 'weak', but joint action on funding for Ukraine would send a 'very strong signal', according to Kaja Kallas.
Leaders of eight EU countries bordering Russia will demand targeted defense funding in the next long-term budget of the bloc at a summit in Helsinki. This is due to growing concerns about Russia's aggressive actions, which are testing their borders.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the US is ready to respond with military action to renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine, which is enshrined in the security guarantees under discussion. He emphasized that Poland will not pressure Ukraine into concessions and will ensure the security of the eastern flank.
The European Union is facing a critical week as it tries to protect Ukraine from an unfavorable peace deal imposed by the US and Russia, and to save a multi-billion euro loan financing agreement for Ukraine. EU leaders will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and American officials in Berlin to discuss a peace deal, and will also fight for support for the lending plan among European governments.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is convening a summit in Helsinki to develop concrete measures to strengthen EU defense. Leaders of eight countries will discuss cooperation and forming a common position to secure funding.
The President of Finland stated that peace for Ukraine is now "quite close," closer than at any time since the start of the full-scale invasion. Negotiations are progressing simultaneously on three key documents, including a framework plan, security guarantees, and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
European countries are considering joint offensive cyber operations and surprise military exercises in response to Russia's hybrid attacks. This comes amid an unprecedented number of sabotage acts and attempted attacks linked to Moscow.
Emails confirm Jeffrey Epstein's attempt, a month before Trump's meeting with Putin in 2018, to pass information about Trump to Russia's top diplomat. He also corresponded about the US president's political decisions.