Finnish foreign ministry official details how Russia's 'hybrid warfare' reshaped border security

"We have in the past witnessed Russia's attempts … to instrumentalize migrants at the Finnish border," Hakkarainen said. "Basically pushing migrants towards our borders, forcing us then to take them on."

A sudden influx forces the Finnish government to process large volumes of asylum claims, which could destabilize society if carried out on a massive scale, he explained. 

In response, Finland closed its entire land border with Russia in 2023. Moscow swiftly filed a formal complaint, condemning the closure as "Russophobic."

The Kremlin expressed "deep regret" over the move, claiming it replaced decades of "pragmatic, mutually respectful relations" with an anti-Russian political stance.

"We think it's important to listen to those of us who live next door to Russia," Hakkarainen said. "Listen to our analysis of the situation: We consider Russia to be a long-term threat to transatlantic security - not only to Ukraine, not only to Europeans, but to transatlantic security as a whole."

Moscow has long viewed NATO's eastward expansion as a direct security threat, using it to justify reinforcing its Western defenses. 

When Finland officially joined the alliance, Helsinki saw an immediate reaction. Over 1,300 migrants without visas arrived at its eastern border.

Closing the border checkpoints has proven "very effective," Hakkarainen noted. Beyond physical barriers, Finnish lawmakers passed the Border Security Act. 

The temporary law allows border authorities to restrict asylum applications and turn back migrants if a foreign actor attempts to destabilize the country by funneling people across the border.

While the law sparked some initial debate over potential human rights and international law violations, Hakkarainen emphasized that national defense took priority.

"We take these concerns very seriously," he said. "But national security and our own sovereignty ... weighed more heavily in this conversation, though there is broad majority support for the act.

"We take our security and preparedness very seriously. 

"I would say not despite that, but because of that, we are able to lead very normal lives here - regardless of the neighbor we have."