"The foe" here specifically refers to someone in war. "Cattle's land" (Karjan maa) could also mean Karelia (Karjala). Many conflicts between Sweden and Russia have occured in history, with Finns in the middle always suffering. Who knows which of the many conflicts inspired this runo.
I think this is one of the many examples that show that runosongs do not glorify war or "warriors". Instead, they often portray the horrible reality of war to the ordinary folk.
 Venäläinen, vainolainen Souteleepi, jouteleepi Kahen puolen karjan maita Ympäri Savon vesijä Kaikki tappaa Karjalasta Samoin tekee Savon maasta Vainolainen vaimot viepi Kurja lapset kuristaapi Verikoira viljan viepi Karjan syöpi kaikki tyyni Viepi vuonan viimesenkiin Syöp se suuhunsa suven tavalla Kylät kytee kekäleinä Talot polttaa tahallansa Kyntämättä kylän pellot Kasket kylän kaatamatta Niityt kylän niittämättä |
The Russian, the foe Rows about idly On two sides of the cattle’s land Around the waters of Savo Kills everyone in Karelia And does the same in Savo land The enemy takes the women The miserable one strangles the children The blood hound takes the crops Eats all of the cattle Takes even the last lamb And devours it like a wolf Villages smouldering in embers He burns down the houses on purpose The village fields unploughed The village swiddens unslashed The village meadows unreaped |