As Russia’s war against Ukraine began on Monday, its twelfth day, Finnish newspapers reported on the weekend’s protests against the attack.
Helsingin sanomat newspaper write that Russian citizens in Finland gathered in the capital’s Senate Square to oppose the attack on Ukraine and the president Vladimir Putin. The event was organized by the Russian-speaking democratic community in Finland.
One of the organizers told HS that he has taken part in the protests every day for the past week because he is forced to show support for Ukraine.
"The outbreak of war was a really big shock. It’s crazy. I just can’t understand it," he said.
HS adds that a second anti-war demonstration was held in Helsinki on Sunday, attended by an estimated 300 people, and as many as 2,500 protesters took part in three separate pro-Ukraine, anti-war demonstrations on Saturday.
Also Aamulehti from Tampere reports on a demonstration held on Saturday in another city in Finland.
The Help Ukraine The event was organized by Tampereen Suomen ukrainalaiset ry, Aamulehti writes, and the group has been actively collecting donations to be sent to Ukraine via the Facebook page “Tampereen ukrainalaiset”.
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“Don’t panic”
Iltalehti Iltalehti advises readers will not panic if they hear the sound of the public warning system on Monday at 12 noon.
For decades, IL writes, the public warning system has been tested on the first Monday of every month. However, due to the increased tension caused by the attack in Ukraine, the authorities took an unusual step and warned the public before the test.
The test alarm is a continuous alarm signal that lasts for about seven seconds, the afternoon newspaper adds, and rescue operations have asked people not to call emergency numbers if they hear the alarm to avoid an unnecessary load on the rescue facility.
In real situations, the public warning signal is a one-minute signal combining two seven-second rising and falling beeps. The signal can also be accompanied by emergency warning broadcasts on radio channels and can also be displayed on YLE, MTV3 and Nelonen’s teletext page 112 and as running text at the top of the TV screens.
Fazer will eventually leave Russia
Turku Sanmoat from Turku reports that the Finnish confectionery company Fazer has ceased operations in Russia.
The company – which employs about 2,300 people in Russia – has been heavily criticized online for seeming to set foot on whether to close or suspend its operations in the country.
TS borrows from Fazer’s CEO Christoph Vitzthum as the company saw "does not change the solution" than to withdraw from the country.
"Russia’s attack on Ukraine is an aggression with tragic consequences throughout the region. We have a number of stakeholders and serious consequences to consider, which has not allowed us to exit as quickly as we would have liked. We have worked tirelessly and as quickly as possible, taking into account the potential risks and threats," Vitzthum said, adding that the company is aware that many people felt the decision should have been made earlier.
Fazer’s net sales from Russia in 2021 were approximately EUR 157 million, TS added, which was approximately 13 percent of Fazer’s total net sales last year.
Source: The Nordic Page