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There wasn't much time left to cross the border: Russians continued to travel to Finland on Thursday afternoon.
At midnight, the country then closed the last remaining direct land route for Russian tourists to the EU.
Maria Muratova, Russian tourist:
»Today the information came that the border would be closed. I had to leave in a hurry because I didn't want to cancel the vacation I had planned for two months. It's just so sad.«
After Vladimir Putin's announcement of partial mobilization, border traffic to Finland increased sharply.
Last weekend, the Finnish authorities registered almost 17,000 entries by Russian citizens - 80 percent more than the weekend before.
The influx of Russians is endangering Finland's international relations, according to the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
So the border was closed.
However, entry for family visits and for work and study purposes is still permitted.
Thousands of Russian citizens had tried to enter Finland in the past few days to avoid being drafted.
Cross-border commuters had reported that military officials were deployed on the Russian side.
It is unclear whether for forced conscription or voluntary recruitment.
Andrei Antonov, software developer:
"There was a makeshift one-room makeshift building with some military paint and inscriptions like 'conscription center' or 'war service', something like that."
Maria Muratova, Russian tourist:
"Yes, that's right. There is a mobile recruiting office on the Russian side. But I haven't seen anyone taken there yet. But that's for the way back."
Many state officials and citizens had recently expressed their dissatisfaction with the mobilization procedure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted to mistakes for the first time on Thursday.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:
“Many questions arise in this mobilization. Mistakes need to be corrected and they need to be avoided in the future. This is about those citizens who are eligible for deferral. For example fathers who have many children or people who suffer from chronic diseases. Or those that cannot be drafted due to their advanced age. It is necessary to examine each such case individually."
The mobilization obviously worried parts of the Russian population.
According to a survey by the independent Levada Center, almost half of Russians felt fear or concern after the move was announced by the Russian government.
13 percent of respondents spoke of anger.
Only 23 percent were proud of Russia.