Russia using ‘hybrid warfare’ to push migrants over Finnish border

Russia is using a “hybrid warfare” tactic to push migrants over the Finnish border, sparking concerns the Kremlin might be starting a larger-scale effort to put pressure on the EU’s longest border with Russia, and NATO’s new eastern flank. 

The Finnish Border Guard says there has been an increase in the number of people crossing from Russia into southeast Finland in recent months without proper documents – most of them lacking visas. 

“The amount is higher than usual,” the Border Guard said in a press release, noting that those who entered into the Nordic nation via this route have applied for asylum. 

Although overall numbers are still low it still represents a sharp uptick in a relatively short period of time. Some 91 people arrived since the end of August until the weekend, while on Monday the Border Guard said 39 more people arrived, and Finnish media reported more than 50 arrived at one specific border crossing on Monday, many of them on brand new bicycles.

The Border Guard says the migrants are mostly Iraqis, Syrians, Turks and Somalis.

Previously, Russian authorities have not allowed anyone to travel to Finnish border crossing points if they don’t have the correct documents or a visa, but that tactic has now changed.

“In recent months, the actions of the Russian authorities, at least on the border with southeastern Finland, have changed in such a way that, unlike before, they have allowed travel despite lack of documents,” the Border Guard said. 

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen accused Russia of deliberately ushering migrants toward the border zone as a type of “hybrid warfare,” and said he will inform NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the EU about the situation. 

Previous Russian tactic using migrants

Finnish authorities have been aware that Russia could send more migrants over its longest land border with the EU as part of a hybrid tactic to try and overwhelm the Finns – a tactic Moscow has tried before. 

In January and February 2016, almost 1,000 migrants arrived at an Arctic border post between Finland and Russia. Finnish officials believe the arrivals were facilitated by Russian authorities with bus transport and hotel accommodation on their journey north, with people given instructions to claim asylum once they got over the border.

The event was widely considered to be Russia’s first, and most successful, hybrid attack of this type on an EU member state to date – although Finnish officials and politicians baulked at labelling it as such at the time.

Analysts tell Euronews it was likely a “proof of concept” operation, demonstrating that Russia could initiate this flow of migrants and then close it again at will. 

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo says the matter “must be taken seriously”, and his government is planning to announce new restrictions for the border.

Measures available to them include further restrictions of cross-border traffic, or closing the border points completely. The government could also decide to centralise all asylum applications at one specific border crossing. 

“The Government will ensure Finland’s border security in all situations,” said Interior Minister Mari Rantanen from the far-right Finns Party. “If necessary, the Government is prepared to exercise all its powers under the law in situations that seriously endanger border security.”

There are already plans in place to build a 200-kilometre fence with enhanced electronic surveillance equipment along the border, but only smaller parts have been completed so far.

“It seems that this is enabled by the Russian authorities, because the procedure deviates from what are the agreed practices at the border,” Orpo told reporters on Tuesday in Helsinki. 

However, the prime minister wouldn’t be drawn on whether this could be classed as a case of hybrid influence. 

“We have no information on whether the arrivals have been encouraged to the border, but it is clear that they are being helped. They have been escorted and transported,” he said.