February 05, 2026

Crossing the Border is Part of the Job


Crossing the Border is Part of the Job
Finnish workers cross the Russian border for jobs on the Saimaa Canal. GoSaimaa

A small but steady number of Finnish workers commute to Russia despite official border closures between the two countries. These workers are part of a maintenance crew that cares for the Saimaa Canal, a narrow waterway leased by Finland from Russia.

​Connecting Finland’s Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland at Vyborg, the Saimaa Canal opened in 1856. The canal was a joint project: Russian-supplied funds were allotted to construction, while Finnish labor built the waterway. After the Second World War, Finland ceded nearly half of the Saimaa Canal to the Soviet Union.

​Since 1962, the Saimaa Canal has been leased to Finland, an agreement that is set to expire in 2062. Under the terms of the lease, Finland is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and equipment, which is Finnish state property. The land itself is subject to Russian legislation.

​Since the border closure with Russia in 2023 (primarily to prevent migration from Russia), work has continued as usual. With the correct permits, specialists working on the canal can cross the closed border. Finnish sub-contractor Topi Karppanen has cleared snow from the access roads along the Russian part of the Saimaa Canal for two years, crossing the border and even occasionally staying overnight.

​Finnish crews conduct weekly inspections to ensure neither party violates the contract terms. The only other people allowed into the territory are Russian border guards and customs officials; Russian civilians are not allowed to enter.

In [now NATO member] Finland, Trust in Russia remains low, and many shipping companies have rerouted or reduced traffic through the Saimaa Canal. Although land border checkpoints are closed, the water network between Finland's interior and the Gulf of Finland remains operational.

You Might Also Like

From the Baltics with Love
  • January 27, 2026

From the Baltics with Love

An investigation revealed how a Russian intelligence network across the Baltics recruits informants and feeds data to Moscow.
Finn-ancial Crisis?
  • April 14, 2025

Finn-ancial Crisis?

The Finnish parliament has passed a law forbidding Russians from owning real estate in the country.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955