Breaking - Finland to close its border with Russia.

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Finland will close its entire land border with Russia due to a rising tide of illegal immigrants arriving from Russia. The lone remaining border crossing at Raja-Jooseppi will be shuttered as of midnight Wednesday. Along with the closure of the entire land border, the Finnish government is also suspending the processing of any asylum applications at all of its land crossings with Russia.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo cited intelligence information in claiming a new wave of immigrants has been arriving in Russia and is making their way to the Finnish border. He says the situation now poses a threat to Finland’s national security.

“Russia is enabling the weaponization of people and guiding them to the Finnish border in harsh winter conditions. Finland is determined to put an end to this phenomenon. We do not accept any attempt to undermine our national security."

At a press conference on Tuesday, Orpo pointed the finger directly at Russia.

“This is Russian aggression towards the European Union. This is a hybrid attack, and that's why this is so serious for the EU.”

According to the Ministry of the Interior, almost 1,000 illegal immigrants have arrived at Finnish border crossings since August.

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen:

“In the current situation, it is necessary to close the entire eastern border. We have taken this decision to protect Finland's national security against this Russian hybrid attack.”

Despite closing all of its land border crossings except for the northernmost border checkpoint, immigrants have continued to arrive, including the first-ever immigrant crossings at checkpoints in the Arctic Circle despite deep freeze-like temperatures.

Matti Pitkäniitty is the head of International Affairs with the Finnish Border Guard.

The land border will be closed until at least December 13, unless the closure is extended further.

Under Finland’s Border Guard Act, the government can seal off the country’s border for a certain period of time if it is deemed necessary “to prevent a serious threat to public order, national security, or public health.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was in Helsinki and attended the press conference alongside his Finnish counterpart. He says Sweden is prepared to help. He too blamed Russia for what he called a calculated attempt to weaponize immigrants to sow disruption and division within the EU.

“It is a serious thing to take advantage of asylum seekers and make people end up in this situation. That's not how neighbours are supposed to behave.”

Late last week the European Union’s Border Agency Frontex dispatched 50 border guards and other support personnel to Finland to help with the immigrant wave.