Russia closes seven railway border crossings with Finland, Estonia and Latvia

Russia has temporarily suspended traffic through seven railway border checkpoints with Finland, Estonia and Latvia from July 1.

The relevant government order was published on June 30. The document does not specify the reasons for the decision.

The restrictions apply to the movement of people, vehicles, goods and cargo. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has been instructed to notify the authorities of Finland, Estonia and Latvia about the measures.

Which Border Crossings Are Being Closed

On the Finnish border, operations will be suspended at five railway checkpoints: St. Petersburg-Finlandsky, Vyborg, Värtsilä, Lyttä and Svetogorsk.

The restrictions will also affect the Pechory-Pskovskiye crossing on the Estonian border and the Pytalovo crossing on the Latvian border.

The decision effectively also affects the Vainikkala rail route, which had remained one of the few communication channels between Finland and Russia. Finland closed all land border crossings with Russia back in December 2023, but rail freight traffic through Vainikkala had continued as an exception.

A New Stage of Restrictions

Russia’s decision comes against the backdrop of existing restrictions along Finland’s eastern border. On June 4, the Finnish government again extended the closure of land border crossings with Russia indefinitely, citing national-security threats and the risk of the instrumentalisation of migration.

Estonia and Latvia have also introduced enhanced border-control measures along their borders with Russia. Authorities in the Baltic states have repeatedly stressed the need to improve border-service readiness and reduce infrastructure dependence on Russia.

Moscow has not officially explained whether the closure of the railway crossings is linked to security, logistics or current political relations with neighbouring countries.

The restrictions took effect on July 1 and will remain in force until Russian authorities issue a separate decision.