Finland Deports 155 Russians Amid Rise in Asylum Grants

Since the beginning of the year, Finland has expelled 155 Russians. From January to August 2026, 155 citizens of Russia were deported from Finland.

Consensus

Finland has deported 155 Russian citizens since the start of 2026.
The number of deportations is 30% higher than during the same period in 2025.
The most common reason for deportation is denial of a residence permit.
90 of the deported Russians were sent directly to Russia.
65 were sent to other countries.
17 deportations were conducted under escort.
Between September 2025 and June 2026, Finland granted asylum to 37% of Russian applicants, up from 21% in the previous period.
The Finnish National Police Board's chief, Jannne Leppä, confirmed these figures and the reasons for deportations.
Some Russian applicants have been denied asylum based on insufficient risk of persecution in Russia.

The court in Finland recently overturned a denial of asylum for anti-war Russians Olga and Nikita Belov, leading to their release from detention and suspension of deportation. — tg_echoonline_news
As of May 31, 2026, only 60 asylum applications from Russians were under review by the migration authority, and 91 were pending in the Supreme Administrative Court. — meduza
Finland began deporting Russians directly across the closed border in 2026, previously routing them through Estonia. — meduza
A journalist in Finland, Valery Klepkin, stated that Russians with expired passports are being sent home due to document issues. — meduza
Ten of the 90 Russians deported to Russia were sent under escort. — tg_echoonline_news
The number of Russians awaiting asylum decisions is very low, with only 60 cases under review as of May 31, 2025. — meduza