Finland closes entire border with Russia after tensions over asylum seekers

Border guards at the Raja-Jooseppi international border crossing in Inari, Finland, on Tuesday. Photograph: Lehtikuva/Reuters

Finland has announced it is temporarily closing its entire border with Russia after weeks of tensions between the countries over asylum seekers that Helsinki has labelled a “hybrid operation” by Moscow.

With just 24 hours’ notice, the Finnish government said on Tuesday it would close Raja-Jooseppi in Lapland, its last remaining border crossing point with Russia, on Wednesday night.