Finland’s government took the extreme step of shutting every road crossing along its 1,340-km border with Russia as of 28 October 2025, reacting to a hybrid warfare tactic involving a surge of several hundred third-country nationals from mainly the Middle East and Africa arriving at remote checkpoints without valid Schengen visas. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen characterized the migrant influx as “clearly organised” and reminiscent of the 2021 Belarus border crisis. The closure, initially for six weeks, bars land entry except for freight rail via Vainikkala and will be reviewed by 13 December 2025. The shutdown impacts cross-border workers, haulage and logistics firms, and companies dependent on Baltic ports, with added transit times and costs estimated at 15%. Finnish missions in Russia suspended Schengen visa issuance in 2024, compounding travel challenges. The government foresees potential prolonged closure if security concerns continue and expects accelerated EU talks on enhanced border controls amid the crisis.
Category: Population & Migration Tools
Subcategory: Weaponized Migration
Incident Type: Pushing asylum-seekers across borders
Country: Finland
Source report: www.visahq.com/es/news/2…
