Finland to cut Russian internet links through its power grid in 2027

Finland’s electricity transmission company Fingrid announced that, starting in 2027, it will sever the fiber‑optic cables that run alongside its high‑voltage power lines and dismantle the supporting pylons. The cables currently carry an estimated 60‑70 % of Russia’s international internet traffic, which has been routed through Finland since Russia halted electricity supplies to the country in 2022. Fingrid says the maintenance of the telecom‑only infrastructure is no longer economically viable, and the Russian grid operator Rosseti concurs.

Russian operators are already negotiating alternative connections with other Finnish telecom firms. While the change is unlikely to affect most consumers directly, it could reduce service quality in north‑western Russia if western and eastern backup routes prove insufficient. Russian officials have warned they are prepared to maintain an independent internet if needed. "Lyhyesti sanottuna, siinä kaikki, mitä sinun tarvitsee tietää digitaalisesta suvereniteetista," a Russian media outlet wrote about the move.