Lada returns home to Kuhmo after year-long journey through Russia

A red Lada from Kuhmo has returned home after nearly a year-long journey in Russia. Its owner, writer Markku Nieminen, would have retrieved the car much earlier, but the eastern border has been closed for almost a year. He needed to bring the Lada home as fees were accruing during its lengthy stay in Russia.

Nieminen was among the last travelers to cross the Vartius border station into Russia on November 23, 2023, just before it was closed. He managed to return to Finland in December using public transport after a visit that included attending events, but the car had to remain in Kostamus, waiting for the border to reopen, which remains uncertain.

The border stations will stay closed as long as there’s a possibility that Russia will channel undocumented migrants to Finland, as it did in the autumn of 2023. Nieminen assumed the border would not remain shut for months.

Upon returning home to Kuhmo by Lake Lentua, Nieminen tried starting his Lada, a round-lamped model from the 1980s. While the car made noises, it failed to start. Just a year earlier, it had been operational, turning the return journey into a dramatic episode.

To organize his Lada’s return, Nieminen first acquired temporary plates as it hadn’t been inspected. After intense wait times crossing through Narva due to lengthy queues, he separated from a family he traveled with and reached Kostamus, where the well-preserved Lada awaited him.

With the border still closed, he had to go through Norway to return to Finland. During this detour, the car lost power, leading to a minor fire that he managed to extinguish with help from passersby. Fortunately, after contacting emergency services, a crew arrived to check on the vehicle.

Nieminen simply reflects on his intense travel experience, hoping to return to Russia once the border reopens. Overall, the journey showcased the kindness of strangers and sparked interest in his Lada.