New fence construction underway near Vaalimaa in Finland’s eastern border

A new barrier along the eastern border of Finland is taking shape near Vaalimaa in Virolahti, with construction already partially complete. A total of 12 kilometers of fencing is planned for both sides of the Vaalimaa border crossing. However, the Border Guard has not disclosed the exact starting and ending points of the fence. Work in Vaalimaa began earlier this autumn.

Project manager Erkki Matilainen stated, “Construction has progressed to the point that sections of the fully completed fence have already been inspected.” The construction is scheduled to continue until the end of next year. In Southeast Finland, additional work is underway in the Nuijamaa and Vainikkala areas near Lappeenranta, where a total of 17 kilometers of fence is planned, with completion expected by spring 2026.

In total, the Border Guard is set to build a solid barrier spanning 200 kilometers along the eastern border by the end of 2026. The initial phase includes constructing approximately 70 kilometers of fence at international border crossing points and their adjacent areas in Southeast Finland, North Karelia, Kainuu, and Koillismaa. Sections of test fencing in Imatra and Salla were completed last year.

The new fence will be slightly taller than originally planned, standing at 3.5 meters high, which is an increase of half a meter based on experiences from the test fences. Additionally, the fence will be denser in structure compared to the materials used for the test version. Matilainen noted, “All the fencing being built now is denser than what was used in the test fence.”