The Finnish Border Guard said the group of illegal border crossers consisted of men, women and children. All 18 people have applied for asylum and preliminary information suggests they are from the Middle East.
Crossing the border along the 1,340-kilometer land border between the two countries is illegal.
Following a wave of FSB-assisted migration in autumn 2023, the Finnish government decided to close all eight legal crossings into Russia. In January, a decision was made to close border crossings until February 11th.
Meanwhile, the FSB border guard service in Karelia, which is responsible for northern Finland’s border with Norway, advertises that Russian checkpoints are still open.
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This information has been posted on several social media sites in northwestern Russia, informing the opening times of checkpoints in Karelia and Murmansk regions. From Karelia to Finland he has three checkpoints, and from the Murmansk region to Finnish Lapland he has two checkpoints.
The FSB has said that checkpoints on the Finnish side of the border are closed, but has not explained why Russia is keeping its checkpoints open as usual.
Thursday’s group of 18 people is the second time this year that illegal immigrants have entered Finland. On January 12, 11 Iranian nationals walked through the snow to seek asylum. The Finnish Border Guard said in a statement that the group was supported by people on the Russian side.
The European border agency Frontex decided this week to extend its support for border control between Finland and Russia. Approximately 50 personnel work with the Finnish Border Guard in the areas of south-eastern Finland, North Karelia and the Kainuu region.
