Finland has completed the fence along its border with Russia / The barrier has cameras and sensors and can be extended

Finland has completed construction of a security fence along part of its border with Russia, amid regional tensions and fears that migration could be used as a tool of pressure. The barrier covers approximately 200 kilometres of the 1,340-kilometre land border and is concentrated mainly in the south-east of the country.

The fence is 4.5 metres high and equipped with cameras and sensors. Construction cost €356 million, while annual maintenance is estimated at €2–3 million. According to Finnish authorities, the barrier helps monitor the border and prevent people from entering the country if the situation requires it.

The project was launched after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Finland to abandon decades of military non-alignment and join NATO in April 2023. At the end of the same year, more than 1,300 visa-free migrants reached the eastern border. Helsinki accused Moscow of orchestrating a “hybrid war”, an accusation rejected by the Kremlin.

Finland closed its land border with Russia at the end of 2023. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen warned that the situation is calm but tense and could change quickly. The government is considering extending the fence and is seeking additional financial support from the European Union. Similar projects have also been developed in other countries on NATO’s and the EU’s eastern flank.