Finland has formally closed all border checkpoints with Russia, leaving only the northernmost Raja-Joosepi still in operation. Reports from a major Finnish TV network indicate that crossings will remain shut at least until February 23, 2024, signaling a deliberate tightening of border controls during a period of heightened tension.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced that the border checkpoints would be completely closed on the night of November 25. He stressed that the move is intended to safeguard the well-being of Finnish citizens and to reduce risk as situations evolve on the frontier.
Beginning November 18, authorities closed five border crossings for a three-month trial period. The suspended routes were Vaalimaa/Torfyanovka, Nuijamaa/Brusnichnoe, Imatra/Svetogorsk, Niiralaa/Värtsilä, and Vartius/Lyuttya. The aim is to reassess security needs and border management given recent developments at the external boundary of the European Union.
Helsinki has accused Moscow of deliberately stirring a migration crisis at the border by facilitating the entry of refugees from Middle Eastern and African nations. This framing emphasizes the political context surrounding the border measures and the broader EU response to migratory pressures.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that there was no prior consultation with Moscow regarding the closures. She described the action as a unilateral decision presented without warning, highlighting the bilateral friction surrounding border policy and regional security concerns.
Historically, the checkpoints on the Russia-Finnish boundary have been closed for extended periods during major operations in Ukraine. In this climate, a senior researcher from the European Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Roman Plyusnin, suggested that the present closures are not intended as short-term measures; rather, they reflect a strategic recalibration of border policy in response to shifting security conditions.
“This will take considerable time to resolve. It is not a transient move; if the special operation ends, the whole geopolitical landscape could change, and it will be necessary to reassess the situation”, the expert remarked.
situation at the border
On November 22, Finnish authorities reached out to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, requesting the deployment of 60 personnel to bolster border security with Russia. In response, EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson criticized Russia for using migrants in ways that could destabilize the European Union, framing the issue as part of a broader security challenge facing member states.
Andrey Chibis, governor of the Murmansk region, commented on the humanitarian strains created by the border closures. He argued that a NATO-aligned country was artificially creating traffic disruptions, reporting that hundreds of people from more than ten countries had been waiting for extended periods to cross into Finland. He added that regional authorities were providing migrants with comprehensive support to ensure their safety and basic needs were met in the Far North, including warming centers and temporary kitchens near the border.
Chibis concluded by calling on Finnish authorities to remember the importance of preserving the human aspect of this crisis.
Recent reports in Karelia indicated that more than 150 migrants were detained while attempting to cross into Finland. Those individuals are currently held in holding areas operated by the Karelian branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They face potential fines and deportation under prevailing regulations governing border crossing and residence status.
immigrant influx
Finnish media had earlier floated the possibility that all nine border checkpoints could be shuttered. The Finnish Ministry of Justice rejected this plan, indicating that stricter measures could risk depriving asylum seekers of access to protection and legal remedies. The vice chair of justice, Mikko Puumalainen, reminded the public that asylum procedures remain defined by law, and any tightening should respect those rights.
Border Guard statistics indicate that more than 500 refugees have entered Finland via the eastern border since mid-November, illustrating the scale of the current migratory wave. The paper Helsingin Sanomat described a recurring pattern in the logistics of refugee movements: a vehicle with Russian plates ferries migrants close to the frontier, where a bicycle is provided to enable a crossing. The report estimated the total cost of this transportation package from Moscow to the Finnish border at about $2,800, covering both car travel and the bicycle portion of the journey.