| Embassy of Russia, Helsinki | |
|---|---|
 The main building of the Russian Embassy on Tehtaankatu. Note theSoviet emblem bas-relief; it has not been removed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. |
TheEmbassy of the Russian Federation in Helsinki is thediplomatic mission ofRussia toFinland. It is located inUllanlinna atTehtaankatu 1, in premises originally built for theSoviet Embassy. The name "Tehtaankatu" was in the past often used as a synonym for the Soviet Embassy.[1] The embassy complex consists of the entire Kaulushaikara block.[2] The site also contains newer buildings.
Before theRussian invasion of Ukraine, there were 147 people working in the embassy. By summer 2023, that number had decreased to 112, of which 37 werediplomats. The embassy has caretakers, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, IT support staff and office assistants of its own– all of them Russian. The children of the embassy staff go to school in the former German Embassy, located 200 meters away.[3]
The staff of the embassy include ambassadorPavel Kuznetsov and minister counselor Leonid Anisimov. Other employees include Russian military attaché, Colonel Eduard Grigoraš, who represents the Russian military intelligence; deputy military attaché Major Stepan Filatov, who has been registered with theGRU space intelligence division, as well as a representative of the Russian customs who has worked at theFSB information center.[3]
According to an estimation by theFinnish Security and Intelligence Service, up to a third of the diplomats of the Russian Embassy are actually spies.[4]
The roof of the embassy features at least 11satellite dishes that are likely used to secure the communications of the employees and agents of the embassy, as well to monitor local radio- and mobile phone communication without authorization.[2][5] There are alsoUHF andVHF radio monitoring antennae on the roof of the building.[3]
Using arandom wire antenna it is possible to send encrypted messages without the location of the receiver being revealed.[3] The Yagi antenna at the corner facing Kaivopuisto can be used to monitor the communication of the administrative quarters in the city center.[3] The Russian Embassy can, for example, monitor the use and location of mobile phones in downtown Helsinki.[3]
In addition to the embassy, Russia has the Russian Science and Culture Centre on Nordenskiöldinkatu inTaka-Töölö, a small apartment building in Taka-Töölö, a villa inKulosaari, an office building on Vattuniemenkatu inLauttasaari, and a residential building inKuusisaari.[3] In 2024, Finland's National Enforcement Authority begun seizing properties in Helsinki that belong to the Russian state.[6] There seems to be no indication that the Russian Embassy will be part of the seizures.
| ambassador | year |
|---|---|
| Boris Aristov | 1992(1988–1991 USSR amb.) |
| Yuri Deryabin [ru] | 1992–1996 |
| Ivan Aboimov | 1996–1999 |
| Aleksandr Patsev [ru] | 1999–2003 |
| Vladimir Grinin | 2003–2006 |
| Aleksandr Rumjantsev | 2006–2017 |
| Pavel Kuznetsov | 2017– |
60°09′35″N24°57′10″E / 60.1596°N 24.9529°E /60.1596; 24.9529
| Americas | |
|---|---|
| Asia | |
| Europe | |
Embassies inmain entries, whileconsulate generals in(sub-entries). | |
| Africa | |
| Americas | |
| Asia | |
| Europe | |
| Oceania | |
| De facto | |
| Organisations | |
| Former | |
1 No diplomatic relations with Taiwan, functions as an informal diplomatic mission | |
