Former CIA officer warns of Russian 'illegals' operating in Finland

A former Central Intelligence Agency officer has alerted Finland to the presence of Russian deep-cover agents operating within its borders as part of Moscow's broader hybrid warfare strategy. Sean Wiswesser, who tracked Russian President Vladimir Putin for years, revealed that these "illegals" maintain false identities while embedded throughout Finnish society.

Russia's Hybrid Warfare Tactics

According to Wiswesser, Russia employs sophisticated intelligence operations targeting divisive social issues including immigration, unemployment, and defense policy to undermine Western democracies. He emphasized that Moscow prefers cyber operations, propaganda, and covert influence campaigns over conventional military confrontation, describing Finland as a primary target in this ongoing "secret war."

Strategic Objectives and Operational Advantage

The former intelligence analyst asserted that Putin's ultimate goal involves reversing the Soviet Union's collapse, which the Russian leader has characterized as a historic catastrophe. Wiswesser highlighted Russia's significant operational advantage, noting that the FSB domestic intelligence agency alone employs approximately 100,000 agents, creating substantial numerical superiority over Western counterparts.

Border Vulnerabilities and Long-Term Strategy

Finland's extensive border with Russia presents ongoing security challenges, with Wiswesser noting insufficient monitoring in certain areas that Moscow understands how to exploit. He contrasted Russia's decades-long strategic planning with Western four-year political cycles, giving Moscow considerable patience in executing its hybrid warfare campaigns across Europe and NATO member states.