Over the past three years, the number of border guards at Finland's eastern border checkpoint has been halved due to declining tourist numbers and the overall economic situation. However, with the number of tourists from Russia steadily growing, the period of austerity and staff reductions is over.
According to Yle, from 2014 to 2017, there was a massive reduction in border guards at the Finnish-Russian border—they were replaced by security cameras, and in special cases, retired border guards were called in. Hour-long queues regularly formed at vehicle checkpoints, particularly on the Finnish side. Young graduates of the border academy, sent to strengthen the staff on Finland's eastern border, are expected to improve the situation.
Source: travel.ru