Finland has closed most of its border points with Russia due to an influx of asylum seekers, blaming Moscow for intentionally sending them.

Finland on Friday shut all border passenger crossings with Russia, bar one. The Nordic nation cited a surge in Middle Eastern and African migrants at the border since August. It says 240 such people arrived this week alone.

Helsinki criticized Russia, saying it is attempting to bring confusion to Finland. Finish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the migrants have been transferred to the border.

British media say the situation is similar to the influx of asylum seekers at the Polish border in 2021. Russian ally Belarus was suspected to have been behind the incident.

Russia has denied any involvement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Finland's decision causes nothing but deep regret since the two countries had long-standing, very good relations. He said the ties "have been replaced by an entirely Russophobic position."

Finland ended its decades of military neutrality after Russia invaded Ukraine. It joined NATO in April and is seeking a defense agreement with the United States.