Finland has announced that it will take action against what it described as a significant rise in the number of immigrants and alleged that Russia is allowing unlawful migrants to pass its eastern border.

According to border guards in Finland, 39 undocumented refugees seeking asylum left Russia on Monday and another 21 on Tuesday morning. The migrants were originally from Turkey, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

Russia is forcing migrants over the Finnish border through a “hybrid warfare” strategy, raising fears that the Kremlin may be initiating a larger-scale attempt to apply pressure on NATO’s new eastern flank as well as the EU’s longest border with Russia.

According to the Finnish Border Guard, there has been a rise in the number of undocumented  immigrants entering southeast Finland from Russia in recent months; the majority of these individuals do not have valid visas. In a press release, the Border Guard stated, “The amount is higher than usual,” adding that people who  entered the Nordic country through that route have requested refuge.

Previous policy of Russian authorities would not permit anyone to enter Finland without the proper documentation or a valid visa.

As a sort of “hybrid warfare,” Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen charged that Russia is intentionally pushing migrants toward the border area. He also declared that he will report the matter to the EU and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Finland “hybrid warfare’ claim

According to Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, there have been significantly more migrants at Finland’s southeast border crossings since August. The administration believes this is because of a shift in Russia’s border enforcement and policy.

However, there’s a growing perception that Russia is now putting Finland to the test with what are known as hybrid attacks, non-combative actions that typically involve some degree of deniability.

The prime minister and interior minister of Finland announced on Tuesday that the government is debating whether to block certain points of entry on the extensive border with Russia in order to deter illegal immigration.

“In every circumstance, the Government will guarantee the safety of Finland’s borders,” stated Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, who represents the extreme right Finns Party. “If necessary, the Government is prepared to  exercise all its powers under the law in situations that seriously  endanger border security.”

Although only small parts of the 200 kilometer fence with improved  electronic surveillance equipment have been finished up to this point, the blueprints are already in place.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters in Helsinki on Tuesday, “It appears that this is sanctioned by the Russian authorities, as the process differs from established protocols at the border.”

Officials in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have made the same allegation against Belarus in recent years. Belarus is a close ally to Vladimir Putin, the Russian President.

After Poland and other EU nations expressed worries about the deployment of Russian paramilitaries close to  their borders, Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would defend Belarus using “all means at its disposal.”

Similar threats of aggressive action have been used by Russia in the past to support its invasion of Ukraine and  other military actions. However, there are currently no indications of a direct conflict between Poland and Russia or Belarus.

What is a Hybrid Warfare

The term hybrid warfare refers to the combination or interaction between standard and non-conventional means of disruption and power. These instruments or tools are combined in a synchronized way to take advantage of an opponent’s weaknesses and produce beneficial results.

First, it becomes difficult to distinguish between times of war and peace. This implies that it is challenging to determine or recognize the war threshold. As war is more difficult to operationalize, it becomes more mysterious.

Even while hybrid warfare is simpler, less expensive, and less dangerous than physical operations, it  nevertheless has benefits whether conducted below the line of conflict or with open hostility.

It is far more practical, for example, to collaborate with non state actors to fund and spread misinformation  than to drive tanks into another nation’s territory or scramble  fighter fighters into its airspace. The harm is genuine, but the expenses and hazards are noticeably lower.

Finland shares a 1,340km (833-mile) border with Russia, which also serves as the European Union’s external border.

Finland Joined NATO

In April, Finland became the 31st member of NATO, and officials in Helsinki expressed surprise that the Nordic nation encountered no resistance during the NATO membership process.

Finland submitted an application to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2017, and in April it  became the alliance’s thirty-first member.

“These folks obviously receive assistance in order to cross the border.

According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, this was a very deliberate choice, he told reporters. “The  government’s message is crystal clear. We need to protect our border’s security and take  this seriously.”

“Possibly Finland’s actions may have offended some Russian officials. About that, you need to speak with  the Russian authorities,” she stated. “We sincerely hope that Russia returns to its previous course of action.”Häkkänen promised to share the information with the European Union and NATO Secretary General Jens  Stoltenberg.

The 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border between Finland and Russia acts as both the eastern frontier of NATO and the external border of the EU. In 2015–2016, thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, attempted to enter Finland through its northernmost border crossing with Russia.