Russia has temporarily suspended the movement of people, vehicles, and cargo through several railway checkpoints located on its borders with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. The corresponding directive was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on June 30 and came into effect on July 1.
Five of the closed checkpoints are on the border with Finland: one in St. Petersburg, two in the Leningrad region, and two more in the Republic of Karelia. One railway checkpoint each was also closed on the Estonian and Latvian borders, both located in the Pskov region.
The Russian government has not disclosed the reason for the decision, nor has it specified the duration of the restrictions.
Finland closed its land border with Russia back in 2023, accusing Moscow of orchestrating a flow of refugees towards its border, an accusation Russia denied. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic states have also tightened border controls with Russia.
