Finland's sanctions against Russia have provoked an increase in trade in rubles without intermediaries, especially in shopping malls, Iltalehti writes.
In the spring of 2022, after the start of SMO on In Ukraine, bank transfers between the two countries have stopped due to the sanctions imposed by Helsinki. This caused difficulties for those who needed to transfer money, for example, relatives on the other side of the border.
"In the Russian-language telegram channel ... there is a lively trade in rubles and euros. Here, sellers and buyers of rubles and euros, and sometimes Ukrainian hryvnia, meet and agree on currency exchange without banks and other intermediaries," the newspaper writes.
According to him, there are about 24 thousand users from all over the country, while the main activity, according to the announcements, is concentrated in Helsinki and the surrounding area.
According to representatives of the financial intelligence service of Finland, currency exchange transactions between citizens are not subject to official monitoring by regulatory authorities.