Migrants look at a Finnish Customs official's dog at the international border crossing at Salla, northern Finland, on Nov 22, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

HELSINKI - The government of Finland decided on Wednesday to restrict road traffic on its border with Russia to just one crossing point in the far north, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced at a government press conference.

Last week, the government closed four border crossings in southeastern Finland but left four others still open in the north. From Friday night, only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing point in the municipality of Inari will remain accessible. The decision will remain in force until Dec 23.

On Tuesday, a plan by Orpo's cabinet to close all road crossings with Russia was rejected by Finland's Chancellor of Justice Office.

The European Union border agency Frontex plans to deploy officers and equipment to Finland as soon as next week in response to a request from Helsinki, a spokesperson said

The chancellor's office approved Wednesday's plan.

ALSO READ: Russia regrets Finland plan to shut remaining border crossings

Asked if a complete closure remains an option, Orpo said on Wednesday that "It can be done, but the present situation does not justify it."

Finland's latest move is a bid to halt a flow of asylum seekers to the Nordic nation. 

The asylum seekers come from a range of nations including Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria, according to immigration authorities.

The European Union border agency Frontex plans to deploy officers and equipment to Finland as soon as next week in response to a request from Helsinki, a spokesperson said.

ALSO READ: Finland to close 4 crossings with Russia due to flow of migrants

EU migration commissioner Ylva Johansson said on Tuesday Finland had asked for 60 Frontex officers on top of 10 already stationed along its 1,340-kilometer frontier with Russia.

"Raja-Jooseppi is the northernmost (border crossing) and it requires a real effort to get there," Orpo said, reports Reuters from Helsinki.

With Reuters inputs