1 of 3 Construction is underway near Imatra, a city of 26,000 people in the southeast of the country — Photo: GUARDA DA FRONTEIRA Construction is underway near Imatra, a city of 26,000 people in the southeast of the country — Photo: GUARDA DA FRONTEIRA
Finland has started building a 200kilometer wall along its border with Russia.
The aim is to increase security in the region and prevent the mass entry of Russian immigrants, according to the Finnish authorities.
Finland shares the longest border in the entire European Union with Russia a total of 1,340 km. Currently, the border is largely delimited by wooden fences designed to prevent the passage of livestock.
Faced with increasing numbers of Russians entering Finland to avoid conscription (for which they would have to fight in the war in Ukraine), Finland decided to erect a barrier.
The Finnish border guard told BBC News that the wall, which will be built in the most dense and forested part of the border, will be made of metal and will be three meters high, topped with barbed wire.
Night vision cameras, light sources and speakers will also be installed in sectors considered more sensitive.
metal barrier
Construction work began on Tuesday (February 28) near Imatra, a town of 26,000 in the southeast of the country.
There, the forest was cut down to build a road and install the metal barrier, the border patrol said in a statement. This 3 km long pilot project is scheduled to end in June.
2 of 3 The war between Russia and Ukraine is one year old — Photo: EPA The war between Russia and Ukraine is one year old — Photo: EPA
In this section, authorities will conduct an experiment to assess whether the fence can withstand winter frosts, snow load or the influx of people from the east, The Odessa Journal reported.
The construction of another 70 km (also in the southeast) will take place between 2023 and 2025.
The total cost of the 200 km long wall is estimated at US$400 million (about R$2 billion).
changes
Although the border between Russia and Finland has “worked well” in the past, Finnish Brigadier General Jari Tolppanen told AFP that the war in Ukraine has “fundamentally” changed the security situation in the region.
Finland passed new amendments to its Border Protection Act in July 2022 to allow stronger barriers to be built.
In September of the same year, many Russians came to the country after the country’s President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of reservists for the fight in Ukraine.
Estonia, Latvia and Poland, which also border Russia, have also increased security at their borders or are considering doing so.
NATO membership
3 of 3 Many Russians decided to leave the country after Putin’s announcement to call up reservists — Photo: GETTY IMAGES Many Russians decided to leave the country after Putin’s announcement to call up reservists — Photo: GETTY IMAGES
After invading Ukraine on February 24 last year, both Finland and Sweden decided to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as soon as possible after years of neutrality.
On Wednesday (March 1st), the Finnish Congress approved NATO accession with a large majority of 184 to 7 votes.
The country faces fewer diplomatic difficulties than Sweden and the government also wants to make further progress ahead of April’s general election.
Meanwhile, Finland and Sweden already enjoy the support of almost every NATO member country except two.
Turkey and Hungary have yet to agree to join the military alliance.