Until recently, the Finnish-Russian border was teeming with life. The high-speed Allegro train, a joint project of Finland’s national VR Group and Russia’s state-owned Russian Railways, took passengers from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki in less than four hours. Further north, the Finnish city of Imatra in South Karelia was a major draw for Russian tourists, who traveled there to shop, enjoy spa weekends, and see the Imatra Rapids, which Catherine the Great made fashionable after visiting in the 18th century.
The Nordics are preparing for war
Neutrality is a distant memory
