Finland’s eastern border fence to cost €1.5 million annually in maintenance

Finland’s 200-kilometre eastern border barrier, set for completion this autumn, will require around €1.5 million per year in upkeep, according to an estimate by the Finnish Border Guard, reports Yle.

Project manager Erkki Matilainen of the Border Guard stated that the figure covers maintenance of the fence structure, adjacent roads, cleared zones, and technical surveillance systems. The final cost may adjust once operational experience is gained after the first winter.

“The estimate will be refined after we gather data from next summer and the coming winter,” Matilainen said. Funding will come from the Border Guard’s operational budget, with cost projections based on pilot sections in Imatra and Salla.

Winter road maintenance and repairs to the cleared border strip will generate expenses, but the largest cost driver will be upkeep of the fence’s technical systems—some details of which remain classified.

Matilainen described the projected €1.5 million annual cost as “reasonable” for a 200-kilometre infrastructure project. The Border Guard aims to minimise expenses by performing maintenance, such as winter upkeep and repairs, with its own personnel and equipment where possible.

The total construction cost of the barrier is approximately €362 million, remaining within budget. As of now, 76 kilometres have been formally accepted, with around 170 kilometres physically installed. The full 200-kilometre fence is scheduled for completion in September, followed by final adjustments. Compensation assessments for affected landowners may extend into next year.

The barrier—comprising a 3.5-metre-high fence topped with coiled razor wire, access roads, and surveillance technology—is designed to enhance border security. Integrated sensors and monitoring systems will improve situational awareness and enable faster response times for authorities in case of incidents.