A project to build around 200 kilometers of fences at key border points continues, with more temporary fencing likely to be built to prevent illegal border crossings.
Although Finland does not plan to fence its entire 1,300-kilometer eastern border, a project is underway to build around 200 kilometers of fixed fencing at key border points.
Finnish authorities may commission the construction of further temporary barriers along the country’s sparsely populated border with Russia.
The Finnish Border Guard does not reveal the exact location of the new barrier or its structure, commander. Kimmo Avonen One of the Border Patrol’s central officials told Ale.
Approximately 70% of the eastern border is coniferous or mixed forest. Lakes, oceans, and other waterways make up 10 percent of the country’s borders.
The temporary fencing already in place is constructed using concertina-shaped razor wire, known as NATO wire, similar to the fencing installed at border crossings when the border was closed last fall.
Temporary barriers are just one way to prevent illegal border crossings.
“Border security is a package. It includes patrols, technical controls, the use of aircraft, as well as various barrier structures,” it said. Samuli MurtonenDeputy commander of the Northern Karelia Border Guard.
For security reasons, the Border Patrol has not disclosed the specific technology used. Various types of surveillance cameras and radar systems are known to be installed along the border.
About 200 trained dogs also work for the Border Patrol.
Even temporary barriers have value
Jukka SavolainenThe Community of Interest Director of the European Center of Excellence for Hybrid Threat Countermeasures (Hybrid CoE) said he supports any measures that give the impression that Finland will not have an easy path to joining the EU.
Temporary barriers made of razor wire are also suitable for this purpose, Savolainen said.
“It’s certainly some kind of practical obstacle; you can’t get through it,” he points out.
But Jukka Savolainen does not want to advise the Border Patrol on where to erect barriers along the border.
“The increase in obstacles could in principle be a major security problem for Finland,” he says.
These barriers are necessary because, in Savolainen’s view, Finland’s eastern border is potentially even more vulnerable than the Mediterranean.
“Illegal migrants brought to the Finnish border can enter Finland by simply crossing a 10-metre border gap,” he points out.
Fence construction is proceeding as planned
deputy commander Heikki Atiainen Finland’s southeastern border guard declined to comment on plans to build a temporary barrier.
At least in North Karelia, some temporary fencing has been erected in areas where permanent barriers are planned.
There are no changes to the construction schedule for some of the fixed fences along the border. Construction of the fence is expected to begin in late winter. A three-kilometre-long pilot fence along the southeastern border with Russia was completed in September last year.
A total of around 200 kilometers of fixed fences will be built, mainly in south-eastern Finland, and the competition is scheduled for 2026 at an estimated cost of 380 million euros.
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