In response to a significant increase in undocumented migrants crossing its border, Finland has decided to close three out of the four remaining checkpoints with Russia. Suspecting Moscow of orchestrating the migration crisis, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo made the announcement on Wednesday.

The Finnish government's decision to close the border crossings comes as part of efforts to better control the flow of undocumented migrants, particularly from the Middle East and Africa. In November alone, around 600 migrants without proper visas and documentation arrived in Finland, a stark rise compared to just a few dozen in the preceding months of September and October.

To maintain order and ensure the security of legal border traffic, Finnish border guards and soldiers have started erecting barriers, including concrete obstacles topped with barbed wire, at various crossing points along the extensive Russia-Finland border, which spans 1,340 kilometres. This border serves as the European Union's external border and constitutes NATO's northeastern flank.

The decision to close four busy border crossings in southeastern Finland was made last week due to suspicions of foul play by Russian border officials. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen asserted that Russia is instrumentalizing migrants as part of its "hybrid warfare" against Finland, particularly after Finland joined NATO in April.

According to Valtonen, there is evidence suggesting that Russian border authorities are not only allowing individuals without proper documentation to reach the Finnish border but are actively assisting them in doing so. The Finnish government believes that these actions are a deliberate retaliation against Finland's decision to align itself with the Western military alliance.

Russia, however, has expressed willingness to cooperate with Finnish officials in reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the border issue. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underscored the need for dialogue and mutual understanding between both countries.

The closure of the most actively used checkpoints on the border has sparked formal protests from Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Finnish ambassador in Moscow on Monday to lodge a complaint regarding the situation.

The influx of migrants at the border has created challenging humanitarian conditions, particularly as winter sets in with temperatures dropping as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit). Pictures shared by Andrei Chibis, governor of Russia's northern Murmansk region, showed migrants in a tent near one of the checkpoints, set up by regional authorities to provide warmth, food, and hot tea.

The majority of the migrants trying to cross into Finland are young men in their 20s, although families with children and women are also among them. The Finnish government has sought assistance from the European Union's border and coast guard agency Frontex to help manage the situation.

The increase in migrant activity at the Russia-Finland border has raised questions about Russia's motives behind such actions. While the Finnish government interprets it as a retaliatory move against joining NATO, analysts remain uncertain about Russia's primary motives.

As Finland takes decisive measures to control its borders and address the migrant crisis, the situation continues to evolve, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.

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