Finland has halted 11 property acquisitions by citizens of several non-EU states, including Russia, due to national security risks. The decision, reported by the Finnish broadcaster Yle, concerns residential houses, holiday homes and business premises located near sensitive areas such as Baltic Sea maritime routes and the Vt5 highway. The Ministry of Defence ruled that the transactions could pose a threat to Finland’s defence capabilities and security resilience.
Details on rejected property deals
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen refused approvals for buyers from Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. He said property could serve as a channel for hybrid influence and that Finland must prevent acquisitions that might undermine its security or complicate defence organisation. In one case, a Russian citizen residing in the Czech Republic sought to buy multiple forest plots in Kouvola, Parikkala, Simo, Kolari and Tornio. Officials assessed that the land could enable surveillance or form part of a broader influence campaign.
Hybrid threats and strategic locations
Finnish authorities note that Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine is accompanied by wider efforts to weaken Western unity using military, political, economic and informational tools. Property near maritime transport routes, logistics hubs and military-relevant infrastructure could provide legal cover for intelligence-gathering or observation of commercial and defence activities. The Ministry highlighted that the applicant in the forest plot case had ties to state-owned Russian nuclear enterprises and previously held senior positions at Rosatom.
Preventive security policy in Europe
Häkkänen stressed that the property permit system, alongside a full ban introduced this summer on purchases by Russian and Belarusian nationals, is an effective defence tool. Western governments increasingly scrutinise acquisitions to prevent hostile actors from embedding themselves near critical infrastructure. Finland’s approach illustrates how legal and administrative measures are being used to counter hybrid threats and protect national security in a long-term confrontation environment.
