Lappeenranta is just under half an hour from the Russian border and has long tried to attract travelers from both Europe and Russia.
- We knew the trade with Russia and had a lot of travel cooperation.
The people here have personal relationships, friends, relatives on both sides of the border.
You can also get service in Russian in the shops, says the city's city director Kimmo Jarva.
Concerns about the future
At the same time, the concern for the Russian has long been beneath the surface.
Many are now wondering about the future due to the changed security situation.
- The fear many feel we have received from our parents, that the Russian can not be trusted and so on.
For many, this is a real fear, that they are capable of such things after all, this is also seen in our political decision-makers, says city resident Kullervo Lehtonen.
Kullervo Lehtonen supports NATO membership, as does his friend Pentti Peltomäki.
- I am a bit critical of NATO but believe that Finland must join, and Sweden will have to follow, they have no choice, says Peltomäki.
See the feature from Lappeenranta in the video above.