Gasgrid Finland Oy and US-based Excelerate Energy, Inc. signed a ten-year lease agreement for the LNG terminal ship Exemplar on 20 May 2022. The vessel will safeguard Finland’s security of supply and help Finland meet its gas needs in the event that imports of Russian pipeline gas are shut down.

COVID-19 also spread widely among the older population in early 2022. This led to a rise in the number of COVID-19-related deaths occurring within 30 days of testing positive. However, this trend took a downward turn in late April–early May. Despite the considerable number of infections, the mortality rate among those who have received at least three vaccine doses has clearly remained at a lower level when compared to the rest of the population. More than half of people aged 80 or over have received their fourth vaccine dose.

The Working in Finland brochure, published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, is now available in 24 languages to inform workers about their rights and where to find help in case of suspected exploitation. A multilingual advisory service for seasonal workers also combats exploitation of labour. 

The Ambassador of Finland and all Finnish citizens employed by the Finnish mission in Kyiv left Ukraine for security reasons in February, when Russia started its military aggression against Ukraine. The security situation in Kyiv has now improved, and Finland’s Ambassador to Ukraine Päivi Laine has returned to her post in Kyiv.