Queues formed at the Karelia-Finland border ahead of the closure of the Finnish border crossing. Videos captured by local residents show migrants from North Africa and the Middle East being provided with bicycles for border crossing. This information was reported by Moskovskiy Komsomolets – Karelia on December 15.
Refugees from North Africa and the Middle East were seen queuing at the Wärtsilä-Niirala border crossing between Finland and Russia. Residents of Karelia documented the distribution of bicycles to aid refugees in crossing the border. Finnish authorities have labeled this phenomenon as 'instrumentalized migration' and a 'hybrid operation of the Russian authorities.'
According to gazeta.fi, citing the Finnish border service, 93 individuals without Schengen visas entered the country after the border with Russia was reopened. Finland had initially opened two border crossing points on December 14 but decided to close them again on the evening of December 15 due to the influx of refugees.
The queues at the exit from Karelia emerged after Finland closed most border crossing points at the end of November 2023. The authorities explained this decision as a response to the flow of refugees and individuals seeking asylum. Most of those attempting to enter Finland through Russia were from Africa and the Middle East.
Murmansk Oblast Governor Andrei Chibis stated that after the border closure, 200 foreigners headed to St. Petersburg. Chibis mentioned that these individuals decided to stay in Russia, having gathered all necessary documents. BBC News Russian investigation revealed that at least 12 migrants who had attempted to enter Finland were recruited by Russia to join the war in Ukraine.
