On September 8, 2025, Russia’s former president and current deputy chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, published a column in TASS titled “The New Finnish Doctrine: Stupidity, Lies, Ingratitude.” In the piece, he alleged that following its accession to NATO, Helsinki was pursuing a confrontational course “under the guise of defensive measures,” preparing a “springboard for an attack on us.” According to Medvedev, NATO is “fully engaged in these affairs and is now intensively mastering all five operational domains of Finland: land, sea, air, space and cyberspace” TASS commentary.
References to NATO activity and Finland’s defenses
Medvedev claimed that near Russia’s borders in Lapland, NATO is building a headquarters structure for forward ground forces, which could expand to brigade level — up to 5,000 troops — if the operational situation changes. He further argued that Moscow had been able to turn Finland into an “anti-Russia” even faster than Ukraine. Finland, he insisted, is “trampling on the historical and legal foundation of its existence,” citing the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty between the USSR and Finland and the 1992 Treaty on the Foundations of Relations between Moscow and Helsinki.
Threats of historical claims and reparations
Invoking Article 44 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Medvedev warned that “against the backdrop of anti-Russian militarist hysteria in Finland,” Moscow might reconsider its refusal to raise “compensation of historical issues” and could demand moral accountability from Helsinki for Finnish actions during World War II. He noted that the Supreme Court of Karelia had once assessed damages at 20 trillion rubles, or around $244 billion.
Kremlin’s strategic narrative and military buildup
Medvedev’s accusations follow his early September visit to Russia’s Northwestern Federal District, during which he spoke of heightened military activity by Finland, Norway and Poland near Russian borders. The Kremlin has been steadily expanding its military presence along Finland’s frontier, including building new bases in Petrozavodsk, laying additional rail lines toward Finland and Norway, and re-establishing the Leningrad Military District bordering the Baltic states and Finland. Analysts see these statements as part of a broader strategy: portraying neighbors as aggressors to justify Russia’s own militarization and to leave room for escalation.
Finland’s readiness and NATO guarantees
Finland, which maintains one of the strongest militaries in Northern Europe, relies on universal conscription and can mobilize more than 280,000 reservists in a week and about one million troops in total. Since joining NATO, it has gained additional security guarantees. With modern weaponry and highly trained forces, Finland’s army represents a significant deterrent factor against Russian aggression. Medvedev’s rhetoric mirrors the Kremlin’s earlier narratives about Ukraine, seeking to depict NATO and Finland as direct threats, undermine Western unity, and strengthen Moscow’s image of a “besieged fortress” at home.