Finland Moves to Bar Russian Athletes From Entry Over Ukraine War

Nov. 12, 2026 Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. REUTERS / Umit Bektas Finland announced Thursday that it will block Russian athletes from entering the country ahead of this month’s cross-country skiing World Cup opener. The restrictions take effect Monday and apply even to those Russian athletes cleared to compete under a neutral flag, as well as other sports professionals. Russian citizens with Schengen visas will only be allowed into Finland to work in tasks that are deemed essential to the country’s national interests, which excludes sports. “As long as Russia’s war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business in Finland. Their entry would endanger Finland’s international relations,” said Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. The International Skating Union (ISU) said it was “studying implications” of Finland’s entry ban for upcoming events hosted by the country, including the 2027 Figure Skating World Championships in March. “ISU believes that athletes should not be punished for the actions of their governments in a world where, sadly, many conflicts are ongoing,” ISU said. The far northern Finnish resort of Ruka will host the men's and women's 10-kilometer classic races, classic sprints and 20-kilometer freestyle mass starts from Nov. 27 to 29. The World Cup returns to Finland for races in the city of Lahti from Feb. 12 to 14. Ruka will also host the men's World Cup ski jumping on Nov. 28 and 29. The ISU this year allowed Russian and Belarusian figure skaters to return to international competitions for the 2026-27 season under a strict neutral status, saying it was acting on recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC provisionally lifted its ban on the Russian and Belarusian Olympic Committees this July, leading to the gradual reinstatement of their sports federations. Finland has already put restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens by, for instance, banning non-essential travel for Russian citizens in 2022. AFP and Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Sport , Finland Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more In Photos: Runners Brave -50º Celsius Temperatures in Yakutia Marathon The two-day marathon was held in Oymyakon, a village known as the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. 1 Min read Putin Shelves ‘World Friendship Games’ Meant to Rival Olympics – Decree The decree said that the World Friendship Games were postponed "until a special decision" by the Russian president. 1 Min read Russia Rages Against Olympic Chiefs, Accuses Them of ‘Neo-Nazism' The IOC had barred Russian athletes from taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics and criticized the Moscow-organized Friendship... 2 Min read Russian Football Coach: We All Said It Together – We Are S**t The former coach of Russia’s national football team has revealed the painful discussions that took place following the team’s dismal performance at...