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Finland is set to close its entire border with Russia for two weeks to address the surge in asylum seekers, a move Helsinki attributes to Moscow’s retaliatory tactics.

The Finnish government announced this decision after already restricting access at most border posts last week, leaving only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing in the Arctic open. However, this final crossing will now also be closed.

This action comes in response to the arrival of approximately 900 asylum seekers from various countries, including Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen, through the Russian border this month—a significant increase from the previous rate of less than one per day.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo accused Russia of orchestrating this flow of asylum seekers as a form of retaliation for Finland’s increased defense cooperation with the United States and its recent decision to join NATO. Orpo stated, “This is Russia’s influence operation and we do not accept it.” The Kremlin has denied these allegations.

Despite the impending closure of the Raja-Jooseppi station, which will remain open until Wednesday before shutting down until December 13, Finland has intelligence suggesting that more individuals are en route to the Finnish border from Russia.