Finland will construct 200 km of fence on the border with Russia by the end of 2026

3 September, 2024 Fence on the border of Finland. Photo credits: Kare Lehtonen/Yle Finland plans to build 200 kilometers of stationary fences on the border with Russia by the end of 2026.

Yle reported on this. The construction of barriers on the Finnish-Russian border is currently proceeding as planned. Construction is taking place in the Nuijamaa and Vainikkala areas.

The fence will be 17 kilometers long. Erkki Matilainen, the Finnish Border Guard's project manager, also stated that over 50 kilometers of the barrier zone in southeastern Finland, North Karelia, and Kainuu had been cleared of trees. In addition, some changes were made to the original fence design: the fence will be half a meter higher, about 3.5 meters high, and the fence network will be denser.

The modernization was due to the experience gained from the previously constructed fence at the test site. Preparations for the construction of the first section of the fence on Finland's border with Russia began in February 2023, and the construction itself began in April.

Construction of the first section of the fence on the border between Finland and Russia. April 2023.

Photo credits: Finnish border guard

The first section of the fence, about 3 kilometers long, was built near the checkpoint near the town of Imatra. Based on their experience in construction in this area, the Finnish authorities wanted to test whether the fence would withstand winter frosts, snow loads, or a possible influx of migrants from the east. The fence will be made of steel mesh, and barbed wire will be installed on top of it.

It will be equipped with video surveillance and floodlights.

Finnish border guards.

Photo credits: Petras Malukas/AFP

The barrier fence will be a new and vital part of border control and will strengthen Finland's preparedness for hybrid security threats, such as a potential massive influx of migrants.

200 km is about 15% of the entire length of the Finnish-Russian border, which is almost 1,300 km long.

According to the Finnish authorities, the expected cost of building a fence on certain border sections with Russia will take three to four years and cost the Finnish budget more than one hundred million euros.