"The implementation of the restrictions will start on 10 April at 00:00. Cross-border traffic at Salla and Raja-Jooseppi will be restricted temporarily for a maximum period of 180 days," the Finnish Foreign Ministry said.
It was added in the statement that only the citizens of Finland, Russia and Belarus, as well as their family members, regardless of their nationalities, could use the aforementioned border crossing points.
The ministry added that the measures aim to curb undocumented migration and related threats and enhance the effectiveness of measures taken by both Helsinki and Moscow in the recent weeks to combat illegal migration.
The influx of refugees from Russia to Finland increased after Norway tightened security measures on its borders on November 26 and hardened the procedure of asylum application on December 4, prompting migrants to seek alternative paths to enter the European Union's borderless Schengen area and to get asylum there.
In January 2016, Finland registered 500 asylum seekers arrivals from Russia against 700 border crossings throughout 2015.
