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.

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