Concerned about a possible permanent closure of the border following Moscow’s mobilization order for the war in Ukraine, a growing number of Russians of fighting age are fleeing to Finland via the main border post at Vaalimaa.
Source: AFP
“Now I think his status matters little. If he is fit to serve today, he can be in the army tomorrow, ”Viktor Zakharov, a 35-year-old scientist, told AFP.
Coming from Saint Petersburg, Zakharov, his wife and three children have just passed the checkpoint where the number of Russians crossing has doubled since the partial mobilization order issued by President Vladimir Putin last week.
“The feeling of freedom is not there yet due to sleepless nights and time spent packing,” the young father said, his face blurred but with a smile.
After a stopover in Finland with friends, he plans to head to Israel.
Between 7,000 and 8,000 people cross the 1,300 km land border every day, most through the southernmost Vaalimaa Pass.
Its gray doors have become a transit point for thousands of Russians going into exile to places like Georgia, Kazakhstan or Turkey.
For Oleg, a bar owner in Moscow, most of those who leave the country like him are fleeing the “terrifying” specter of being trapped.
They fear “that it will be closed forever and that it will be over, that they will have to live in a totalitarian state where they will not be able to do anything,” said Oleg, without wanting to show his face to the AFP camera.
For this 36-year-old man, the mobilization order is only the “first sign” of a border closure that he foresees in the coming days.
There is a risk that the Kremlin will prevent him from leaving the country but also that, faced with a wave of Russian “tourists” this summer, Finland will prevent the passage of Russians with Schengen tourist visas.
This visa allows you to move freely between most of the countries of the European Union.
The Finnish government must discuss on Thursday the entry into force of the measure, already enacted since the end of last week.
– “At least I’m here now” –
“I can’t say I’m happy,” admitted Vadim, a Moscow official who arrived by bus. “But at least I’m here,” he consoles himself.
He left his mother and his apartment but hopes to return to Russia later.
“I was worried about being able to cross the border because I heard about many young people who were taken by force and could not leave because of the mobilization,” he said before getting back on the bus.
The current queues are manageable, according to Finnish border guards, but they have grown long in the last week.
“This is currently the largest crossing point from Russia to Finland,” said Jesse Pirttinen, a border guard lieutenant.
Before covid, there were 2.5 million crossings a year in Vaalimaa, a figure that fell to 250,000 during the pandemic.
“Now we reach 90% of the level of 2019, so it is almost the same as three years ago,” said the official.
But new restrictions on the Finnish or Russian side could mean more attempts to cross the border illegally.
Parallel to its historical candidacy to join NATO, not yet effective, Helsinki presented a plan to reinforce its eastern border with more barriers and fences.
According to the latest proposal of the border guards, from 130 to 260 kilometers will be reinforced in this way.
