Russia issued a formal note to Finland following an incident where a Russian flag was burned outside the Russian embassy in Helsinki on the anniversary of the Ukraine war. This act has been regarded by the Russian Foreign Ministry as a gross insult to the national symbol of Russia, prompting them to call for a meeting with Finland's ambassador, Maria Liivala, to discuss the matter further. Russia has urged Finland to identify and prosecute those responsible for the incident while also preventing similar extreme actions against its diplomatic missions in the future.

In response, the Finnish Foreign Ministry condemned the act, emphasizing the importance of protecting diplomatic missions and their personnel. The ministry stated that such vandalism and hostile actions toward diplomatic representations are completely unacceptable. It was noted that Liivala provided her account of the incident during her meeting with Russian officials, highlighting the diplomatic tension that this act has created between the two nations.

This incident reflects the larger geopolitical tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict and Russia's sensitivity to actions perceived as disrespectful. The Finnish government's swift condemnation of the flag burning indicates its commitment to international diplomatic protocols while navigating complicated relations with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.