Finnish Customs is initiating negotiations with personnel on the eastern border regarding potential staff reductions. The decision is driven by a sharp decrease in rail traffic at the Russian-Finnish border after Moscow closed all railway crossing points except Vainikkala in July 2026. This was reported by the Yle portal, citing an official statement from Finnish Customs.
Who will be affected by the negotiations
According to Customs, the negotiations, which start on November 18, will involve 41 employees of mobile units in the Savo-Karelia and Nuijamaa regions, as well as specialists who analyze X-ray images at the Vaalimaa checkpoint. The agency is considering several options: transferring employees to other positions, switching to part-time work, and other forms of employment. Up to 23 employees from mobile units in Savo-Karelia and Nuijamaa may be temporarily placed on unpaid leave.
Reasons: closed points and eightfold tariffs
The reduced load on the eastern border is directly linked to restrictions imposed by Russia. Since July 1, 2026, Moscow has suspended the operation of a number of railway border crossings with Finland, Latvia, and Estonia, leaving only Vainikkala operational on the Finnish route. Even at this point, train traffic has decreased: Russia has increased railway transportation tariffs to Finland eightfold. According to Customs, the transit of fertilizers through Finnish territory to other countries has ceased entirely.
Not the first step
The current measures are not the first of their kind. Last summer, Customs already temporarily placed over 100 employees working on the eastern border on unpaid leave, including those at the Nuijamaa, Imatra, and northern crossings. At the time, the agency explained the decision by the lack of prospects for resuming operations at the border points in the foreseeable future.
Context and next steps
Against the backdrop of shrinking transport flows, Helsinki continues to adapt its border infrastructure. Previously, the Finnish government decided to allocate approximately 10 million euros for the modernization of closed border facilities. Thus, the personnel negotiations are becoming part of a broader restructuring of the eastern border's operations in the context of effectively halted rail communication with Russia.
