Moscow's message chills the blood: You will disappear; We'll use "Oreshnik"

Dmitry Medvedev, former president and prime minister, and today the deputy president of the Russian Security Council, issued the warning after visiting the Russian border with Finland, which is 1,340 kilometers long.

"Under the veil of defensive measures, Helsinki is leading a course towards confrontation in preparation for war with Russia, apparently preparing a springboard for an attack on us," Medvedev wrote in a text published by the state-run TASS agency.

"Finland could disappear forever"

Medvedev cited the country's participation in the recent NATO military exercises as "proof" of Finland's intentions and warned that the confrontation "could lead to Finnish statehood disappearing forever."

"Unlike in 1944, nobody will be soft on them this time," he added.

He also criticized the opening of a NATO command center in the Finnish town of Mikkeli, about 240 kilometers from St. Petersburg.

Although, as reported by Index, Medvedev is known for his harsh and often apocalyptic rhetoric, this is the first time since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that a high-ranking Russian official has directly accused a specific NATO member.

Strengthening the border and accusations of "hybrid operations"

His threats come after satellite images showed that Russia is building new military bases near the Finnish border.

Both Moscow and Helsinki are strengthening their defenses, and Finnish authorities have accused Russia of directing migrants towards the border as part of a "hybrid operation".

The Kremlin has not openly opposed Finland's entry into NATO, but has threatened to respond if the alliance deploys troops or military infrastructure in that country.

In his address, Medvedev also used Putin's claims about Ukraine as a "Nazi state", alluding to the historical use of the swastika in the Finnish air force.

It is a symbol introduced in 1918 as a sign of good luck, but which was still abolished in order to avoid "unpleasant situations" at international events.

They will use "Oreshnik"

Medvedev already said in July that Russia must be ready for "preventive strikes" against Western countries.

At the same time, Russia and its ally Belarus announced joint military exercises from September 12 to 16 near the Polish and Lithuanian borders.

The exercises have been held every four years since 1999, but this is the first time since 2022.

It will include scenarios of the use of nuclear weapons, as well as the testing of the Russian hypersonic missile "Oreshnik", they announced in Minsk.