Finnish border authorities have stationed a substantial fleet of 157 vehicles at select crossings since a ban on Russian license plates came into force. The information comes from the department’s media team reporting on the enforcement measures.
A large portion of these vehicles were not allowed entry through the key crossing at Vaalimaa-Torfyanovka, with 81 cars blocked from passing. Additional vehicles were rejected at the Nuijamaa-Brusnichnoe checkpoint, where 38 were turned away. In parallel, 15 vehicles were diverted to a police facility in Imatra, while 11 others were directed to the border with Norway for further processing. The scale of these actions underscores the tightening border controls now in place along the frontier.
On September 10, the European Union implemented a broad ban on the import of several Russian goods, including personal cars, smartphones, and cosmetics. The restrictions also cover trailers and semi-trailers used to transport valuables, in addition to everyday items such as toilet paper, shampoos, toothpaste, general goods, yachts, and cameras. This move reflects a comprehensive effort to curb the flow of goods from Russia to EU markets and is being interpreted by member states as requiring careful national decisions on how to handle instruments of import that have already crossed borders. According to a representative from the European Commission, EU countries retain sovereign authority to determine the fate of goods that have entered their territories from Russia, including vehicles. This statement emphasizes that national authorities will assess each item on a case-by-case basis as borders implement the new rules.
Earlier reports indicated that Finnish authorities were considering evacuating vehicles that have lingered in the Helsinki Airport parking area, including those bearing Russian plates. The plan to relocate long-standing parked vehicles would aim to clear the facility and streamline operations at a busy transit hub while applying the new EU restrictions in practice. This development highlights how border and customs agencies coordinate to manage vehicle flows during periods of heightened regulatory change and enforcement pressure.