🚨BREAKING: A groundbreaking investigation reveals a hidden network in Finland, secretly fueling Russia's military might. Read on for the whole thing. 🧵 #Finland #Russia 
🧵 Under the radar: Companies in nondescript metal sheds across Finland have been exporting significant amounts of military equipment to Russia.
🧵 Finnish companies with Russian ties are supplying products critical to Russia's military operations. Their clientele includes connections to Russian intelligence and defense sectors.
🧵 Journalists Jyri Hänninen and Riku Roslund unveil the Finnish firms that continued their exports to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
🧵 In Finland, numerous enterprises, either led or owned by Russians, have been providing high-tech and other essential military products to Russia during the Ukraine conflict.
🧵 These businesses have clients with ties to the Russian military industry and intelligence agencies, such as the FSB.
🧵 As per customs data sourced by MOT, Finnish companies with Russian backgrounds are exporting warfare-critical items to Russia.
Over twenty Finnish companies were identified, engaging in such exports to Russia.
Over twenty Finnish companies were identified, engaging in such exports to Russia.
🧵 Owned by individuals of Russian descent, these small-scale logistics and freight forwarding companies are based in Southeast Finland, near the eastern border, and in Vantaa, known for its major logistics hubs.
🧵 MOT's latest documentary, "Military Goods from Finland to Russia," available on Yle Areena, delves deeper into this issue.
🧵 The FSB's Acknowledgement: A Russian-backed business near Lappeenranta has been shipping numerous packages to Russia, including sensors, diesel engines, fuel pumps, and power transmission equipment.
🧵 Components similar to these were discovered in Russian weaponry and vehicles destroyed in Ukraine. They have been identified as critical components by an international investigative team.
🧵 Researchers emphasize these components' crucial role in enhancing the Russian army's combat effectiveness. Not all were subject to Western sanctions, easing their transfer to Russia.
🧵 Two Russian clients of the Lappeenranta company are connected to the FSB. Russian public procurement data indicates these companies have engaged in transactions with the FSB. One has even publicized FSB's commendations on its website.
🧵 A visit to the Lappeenranta company's site revealed quiet surroundings, with luxury cars parked outside. A man at the door, though not representing the company in question, acknowledged the refusal of our interview request.
🧵 Beyond the Basics: Finnish companies have also supplied Russia with equipment suitable for military R&D and intelligence operations, including signal analyzers, frequency synthesizers, PCB supplies, optical devices, and voltmeters.
🧵 Some exports are more mundane, like engine parts, bearings, and valves, but are still vital to the functioning of Russia's military machinery.
🧵 These Finnish enterprises have either directly exported to Russia or served as intermediaries between foreign sellers and Russian buyers, taking care of shipping logistics and necessary paperwork.
🧵 In some cases, goods from Finland have been rerouted to Russia through other countries, masking Finland's involvement in customs records.
🧵 Just before the war's onset, one Finnish company managed over ten million euros worth of shipments to a client linked to the Russian defense industry, including video cameras, hard drives, and other electronics.
🧵 Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this company began organizing similar cargo transports from Finland to Uzbekistan, a known route for Russia to circumvent sanctions.
🧵 While it's not confirmed if the Russian military and security services specifically used products exported from Finland, at least nine Finnish companies' Russian clients have direct ties to Russian intelligence or defense sectors.
🧵 Despite numerous attempts, MOT reporters couldn't secure interviews with the companies' representatives. Some agreed to background discussions, denying any violation of sanctions or support for Russian military forces.
🧵 The names of these small companies, wielding no significant economic power and with owners not convicted of crimes, are withheld.
🧵 The investigation involved analyzing customs statistics, trade registries, police investigation materials, and court documents. Customs data were sourced from an international commercial entity, as Finnish customs do not release company-specific data.
🧵 This thread only scratches the surface. Dive deeper into this alarming issue and explore more on the intricate network supporting Russia’s military endeavors from Finnish soil. #Finland #Russia #RussiaIsATerroristState
Source: yle.fi/a/74-20068825?…
Source: yle.fi/a/74-20068825?…
Clarification: The actions described are those of specific private companies, not representative of Finland's official policies or practices.
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