Russian-Language Media Landscape in Finland

This report presents the first systematic attempt to map and analyse the Russian‑language media landscape in Finland. Combining quantitative social media mapping, network analysis and qualitative interviews, the study explores who the key actors are, how they operate across platforms, how active they are, and how they connect with one another.

By examining both structural characteristics and lived experiences of media creators, the research offers a comprehensive overview of a field that remains largely underexplored.

The focus on social media is shaped by structural features of the Russian‑language media field in Finland. Given the limited presence of traditional, institutionalised Russian-language media outlets in the country, social media platforms serve as the primary channel for information dissemination, with the largest number of active actors.

Understanding this ecosystem is particularly important in light of the Cultura Foundation’s monitoring studies of Russian speakers in Finland (2022, 2024), which indicate comparatively low levels of trust among Russian‑speaking residents toward Finnish media as a social institution, relative to national data.

This research, therefore, continues and complements previous studies by examining not only media consumption and trust, but also the structure and dynamics of the Russian‑language information environment itself.

If you notice any typos or other errors in the text, we would appreciate it if you could let us know by email: danil.lopatkin@culturas.fi