Ambassador from an 'unfriendly country' recounts early days of invasion war in Moscow

In his book 'Notes from Moscow,' former Finnish Ambassador Antti Helanterä offers a stark account of his time in Russia, a period dominated by the escalating conflict in Ukraine. His tenure, which began with the expectation of normal diplomatic duties, transformed into a constant state of alert and uncertainty following Russia's full-scale invasion. Helanterä vividly describes this shift, comparing his diplomatic efforts to 'night orienteering,' a challenging navigation through unpredictable terrain and obscured markers.

The challenges were not merely abstract. Helanterä recounts instances of staff expulsions and anonymous threats, underscoring the hostile environment that developed. This personal experience provides a ground-level view of the deteriorating relations between Finland and Russia, and the immense pressure placed upon diplomats representing a nation perceived as unfriendly by the Kremlin. The review emphasizes how the initial phase of the war turned routine diplomatic work into a high-stakes, precarious operation.

This account, as reviewed by Helsingin Sanomat, offers a unique perspective from within the Finnish diplomatic corps. It highlights the personal toll and the complex decision-making required when navigating a rapidly deteriorating geopolitical landscape. The narrative underscores the difficult position Finland, as a neighbor to Russia and a supporter of Ukraine, found itself in, forcing its representatives to operate under unprecedented strain and scrutiny. The Finnish perspective, as presented here, focuses on the practical difficulties and the psychological impact of serving in such a charged atmosphere.

“

Antti Helanterä compares his work in Russia to orienteering. Constant decisions about route selection, reading map symbols and the terrain ahead.