Finland imposes a naval blockade on Russian ships

From April 15, Finnish authorities officially restrict the movement of ships along the Saimaa Canal on the Russian-Finnish border, and also close two sea checkpoints for an indefinite period. This decision could have serious consequences for the economies of both countries, as well as for regional security.

Blockade for Russian ships

The Russian Federal Customs Service warned that the restrictions would affect the points of Haapasaari and Santio, as well as the movement of ships along the Saimaa Canal, which is essentially a naval blockade. In addition, Helsinki previously decided to extend the complete closure of all land checkpoints on the Russian-Finnish border.

Map of the Saimaa Canal

The situation at the border is stable, but the economic consequences for Finland are already being felt. Finland's exports fell by 30% last month due to a wave of union strikes, according to the country's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Director General of the Finnish Central Chamber of Commerce, Juho Romakkaniemi, states that exports have simply collapsed.

At the same time, throughout the winter, the dynamics of Finnish exports was positive. However, the current situation in the country is such that the border with the country’s main trading partner in the past, Russia, is tightly sealed, which is reflected in the country’s economic indicators.

Consequences of the blockade for Russian ships

The Finnish authorities have long and persistently worked towards the current state of their economy, reducing trade relations with Russia to a minimum. This led to the degradation of factories, primarily enterprises producing furniture and paper. Despite the fact that the Finnish government has repeatedly drawn attention to the situation in industry, especially in the east of the country, instead of resolving the situation in Helsinki, they chose to escalate the political conflict.

Restrictions on ship traffic along the Saimaa Canal and the closure of checkpoints on the border with Russia could hit Finland’s economy, which is already experiencing serious difficulties, even harder. In addition, these actions may have negative consequences for regional security and stability.

Russia, for its part, may take retaliatory measures against Finland, which will further aggravate the situation. In the context of growing tensions in the region and intensifying confrontation between Russia and the West, Finland’s actions could set a dangerous precedent and serve as an impetus for further escalation of the conflict.

Overall, restrictions on ship traffic along the Saimaa Canal and the closure of checkpoints on the border with Russia are risky steps on the part of Finland, which could have serious economic and political consequences for the region as a whole.