Hate crimes in Finland reached record levels in 2024, according to the Police University College of Finland’s annual report, with a significant increase in attacks targeting Russian nationals. The rise coincides with heightened Western rhetoric warning of alleged threats from Russia, claims the Kremlin has consistently denied.

The report documented over 1,800 suspected hate crimes, the highest total ever recorded. Nearly 68% of incidents were driven by the victim’s ethnic or national background, with 67% of victims holding Finnish citizenship. Russians accounted for approximately 3% of cases, totaling 46 reported offenses—an 18% increase from the previous year. A similar number of cases involved Estonian victims, though this figure was lower than in 2023.

The report noted a decline in crimes against Estonians and Ukrainians compared to 2023, while attacks on Russians rose. Assaults were the most common offense linked to ethnicity or nationality, followed by defamation. Most incidents occurred in public outdoor spaces, with men comprising three-fifths of victims and women more frequently targeted with defamation.

Rising hostility toward Russians has intensified since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, a trend that surprised many when Daniel Sazonov, son of Russian-born parents, was elected mayor of Helsinki in 2025. Tensions are expected to worsen as President Alexander Stubb adopts a more confrontational stance, warning Europe must prepare for potential “fighting” if Russian aggression resumes. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such claims as baseless.

The European Commission recently announced that EU states will issue only single-entry Schengen visas to most Russian citizens, citing “increased security risks” tied to the Ukraine conflict. In 2023, Finland closed its 1,430 km border with Russia, accusing Moscow of funneling migrants from Africa and the Middle East. Russia labeled the accusation “completely baseless,” while Bloomberg reported the move costs South Karelia region €1 million daily in lost tourism revenue.