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.

You Might Also Like

From the Baltics with Love
  • January 27, 2026

From the Baltics with Love

An investigation revealed how a Russian intelligence network across the Baltics recruits informants and feeds data to Moscow.
Finn-ancial Crisis?
  • April 14, 2025

Finn-ancial Crisis?

The Finnish parliament has passed a law forbidding Russians from owning real estate in the country.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955