A view of the border between Russia and Finland at the Nuijamaa border checkpoint in Lappeenranta, Finland on November 15, 2023.
The four border crossings - at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala in southeastern Finland - are normally the busiest points of travel between the two countries.
Nearly 100 asylum seekers had entered Finland from Russia on Friday by midday, officials said.
Finland shares a 1,340-km (833-mile) border with Russia that also serves as the EU's external border.
Finland's ombudsman for non-discrimination said on Thursday Helsinki still had a duty under international treaties and EU law to allow asylum seekers to seek protection.
Persons:
Helsinki, Matti Pitkaniitty, Pitkaniitty, Essi Lehto, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Gareth Jones
Organizations:
Finnish Border Guard, European Union, NATO, Kremlin, Helsinki, Thomson
Locations:
Russia, Finland, Lappeenranta, Finnish, HELSINKI, Vaalimaa, Russia's, Salla, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Moscow, Ukraine, United States