Finland’s Border Guard has confirmed that it deported a Russian man—identified by Finnish media only as “Yevgeny,” a former Wagner Group mercenary—through the Niirala crossing on 14 November after his asylum application was rejected. The man had slipped across the forested frontier near Kitee in June and requested protection, claiming that he fled Russia after fighting in Ukraine. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) completed an accelerated asylum review, determining that his military background and unclear identity constituted security risks incompatible with protection under Finnish or EU law.
The deportation comes as Helsinki enforces a year-old emergency law that lets officials summarily return irregular arrivals at the closed 1,344-kilometre eastern border if national security is deemed at stake. Authorities argue that Russia has been “instrumentalising migration,” prompting Finland both to close all road crossings in late 2023 and to fast-track a 200-kilometre security fence scheduled for completion in 2026.
![Finland Deports Alleged Ex-Wagner Fighter, Underscoring Tougher Border and Asylum Policy]()
For global-mobility practitioners, the case is a reminder that Finland now takes a hard line on asylum claims filed at the eastern frontier and will remove applicants who fail to meet the tightened eligibility thresholds. Companies relocating staff should instruct employees not to attempt informal land crossings and to carry complete travel documentation when entering via approved airports or seaports.
The incident also illustrates the expanding reach of security vetting: Migri now routinely checks applicants against military-service databases and open-source intelligence. Employers sending Russian nationals—or any applicant with prior combat experience—should expect longer processing times and should prepare additional evidence of identity, lawful residence, and non-involvement in sanctioned entities.
Looking ahead, legal experts anticipate that the government will seek parliamentary approval in early 2026 to extend the push-back law beyond its current sunset clause. If approved, the measure would codify rapid removals as a permanent tool, further shaping Finland’s risk calculus on migration and cross-border travel.
The deportation comes as Helsinki enforces a year-old emergency law that lets officials summarily return irregular arrivals at the closed 1,344-kilometre eastern border if national security is deemed at stake. Authorities argue that Russia has been “instrumentalising migration,” prompting Finland both to close all road crossings in late 2023 and to fast-track a 200-kilometre security fence scheduled for completion in 2026.
For global-mobility practitioners, the case is a reminder that Finland now takes a hard line on asylum claims filed at the eastern frontier and will remove applicants who fail to meet the tightened eligibility thresholds. Companies relocating staff should instruct employees not to attempt informal land crossings and to carry complete travel documentation when entering via approved airports or seaports.
The incident also illustrates the expanding reach of security vetting: Migri now routinely checks applicants against military-service databases and open-source intelligence. Employers sending Russian nationals—or any applicant with prior combat experience—should expect longer processing times and should prepare additional evidence of identity, lawful residence, and non-involvement in sanctioned entities.
Looking ahead, legal experts anticipate that the government will seek parliamentary approval in early 2026 to extend the push-back law beyond its current sunset clause. If approved, the measure would codify rapid removals as a permanent tool, further shaping Finland’s risk calculus on migration and cross-border travel.
