The road that runs through the village of Möhkö terminates at a barrier at Aajevaara. Behind the barrier is the border zone, and the Russian border is only 700 metres away.  

Until the Moscow Peace Treaty of 1940, the road was useable thirteen kilometres farther to the village of Kuolismaa, which was connected with the regional capital of Joensuu by a regular bus service. The istance to Liusvaara, the next settlement beyond Kuolismaa, was 40 kilometres from the barrier, and still farther, 10 kilometres from Liusvaara, was Megri, where a Frontier Guard unit was based before the Winter War (1939 to 1940). These settlements were Finnish territory. 

The road to Kuolismaa can be called an attack avenue for good reason. On the morning of 30 November 1939, the first day of the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, the Red Army’s 155th Division with a total strength of 18,000 men crossed the border into Ilomantsi at three points.

After the end of the Winter War, Soviet troops withdrew along the same route but the border was by then moved to its present location. In the Moscow peace talks, Finland ceded one third of the land area of Ilomantsi to the Soviet Union. Kuolismaa, Liusvaara and Megri villages were left behind the border.

When the Continuation War began on 25 June  1941, Kuolismaa road again witnessed advancing military formations. However, this time the flow was in the opposite direction: the marching troops were the Finnish troops on their way to recapture the lost lands. Three more years passed, and Kuolismaa road became once again an avenue of attack, now toward Finland. The Soviet offensive in the south had met fierce opposition, and now the Red Army was striving to drive through Ilomantsi to deliver the final blow on Finland.

The attacking Soviet force consisted of two divisions which were depleted by 50 percent compared with their nominal strength of Winter War days. In the north, the 176th Division proceeded toward Hattuvaara, while along Kuolismaa road, the 289th Division faced Major General Erkki Raappana's 21st Brigade.