Finland has moved to restrict how its residents and businesses obtain petroleum products from Russia. Officials from the Finnish Customs service, including representative Tuula Lähderinne, emphasized that the safeguards are part of broader measures tied to European Union sanctions. In practical terms, the rules from the EU, implemented on June 4, 2022, prohibit direct or indirect purchases, imports, or transfers of petroleum products from Russia. This means that, at present, fuel imports from Russia are limited to what can be carried in a standard vehicle’s fuel tank. Imports into drums or other containers are not allowed.
Finland sits at the edge of the European Union with the longest continuous land border with Russia. This geographic reality has long made the region a corridor for cross-border mobility and commerce. In border areas, many people routinely travel for economical fuel and other goods that have historically been more affordable across the border in the Russian Federation. The shift in policy and price dynamics since the sanctions have begun to reshape travel patterns and pricing expectations for residents who live near the frontier.
In neighboring Baltic states, trends have shown similar concerns about how sanctions and price differentials influence travel and shopping behavior. Reports highlight a rising number of travelers seeking cheaper fuel and other items in areas beyond their own borders, including moves toward Belarus for access to inexpensive gasoline and goods. Economists note that such flows can reduce certain tax revenues for their home economies, while simultaneously increasing the spend in border economies where cross-border purchases remain feasible. They caution that revenue shifts may affect public budgets and policy decisions in ways that reflect the broader geopolitics of the region.