Russia has closed several railway checkpoints on the borders with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia as of 1 July 2026, The Baltic Times reports. The official notice indicated no end date or reason for the closure. The order applies to the Lyttä, Värtsilä, and Svetogorsk (Enso) checkpoints on Russia’s border with Finland, the Pechory (Petseri) checkpoint on the border with Estonia, and the Pytalovo (Abrene) checkpoint on the border with Latvia. Rail traffic from Russia to Finland, Estonia, and Latvia had come to an almost complete halt before the latest order already. Following the decision, Russia’s only railway border crossings on the borders with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia that remain open are Buslovskaya (Louko), Ivangorod (Jaanilinn), and Posin, respectively. The Russian government’s order does not apply to railway traffic with Lithuania.
Observers suggested that the Russian decision to close the railway border crossings may be a way to improve military logistics, strengthen border security, or send a political signal to the Baltic States and Finland, Latvijas Avize reported. Estonian transit expert Raivo Vare noted that the government order would support Russia’s state-run railway company, Russian Railways (RZD), which was facing major difficulties because of sanctions and the war with Ukraine, ERR reported. He said that Russia sought to encourage Central Asian countries to export more cargo through Russian ports. Arthur Raichmann, commercial director at Estonia’s state-owned railway company, Eesti Raudtee, said that the Russian move would effectively thwart efforts of several Estonian logistics companies to expand trade ties with Kazakhstan, ERR reported.