Finland today began construction of a new 200-kilometer fence along its border with Russia.

The project was decided and approved after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The work began today “with deforestation, which will allow the construction of the road and the installation of the fence to continue,” the border guard emphasizes. The construction of an additional 70 km of the fence will be implemented between 2023 and 2025, mainly in the southeastern part of the Scandinavian country, on the 1340 km section of the Finnish border with Russia.

Helsinki plans to build 200 km of fences as part of a massive project worth 380 million euros.

Three-meter metal barriers will be fenced with barbed wire, night cameras, lights and loudspeakers will be installed in places considered secret. The last stage is planned to be completed in 2026.

Fearing that Moscow will use migration flows to exert pressure, Finland, a NATO candidate, amended its border guard law in July to make it easier to build fences.

Finland’s borders are currently guarded mainly by light wooden barriers designed to prevent the movement of animals.

Estonia, Latvia and Poland have also stepped up (or plan to tighten) security measures on their borders with Russia.

In September, Russians flocked to Finland after President Vladimir Putin announced that reservists were being mobilized to fight in Ukraine. In response, Helsinki significantly restricted the entry of Russian citizens into Finland.

Source: RES-IPE