Border fence construction nears completion along Finland’s eastern frontier

Finland’s 200-kilometre eastern border fence is nearing completion, with sections already operational in Lapland and Kainuu and more than 90 percent finished in North Karelia and South-East Finland.

Project manager Erkki Matilainen told Yle that the barrier is now in use along the northern stretches and that work continues in the south-east, where readiness exceeds 90 percent. The entire barrier is scheduled for completion by September, after which final finishing touches will be made.

Approximately 140 kilometres of fencing are being built in South-East Finland and 40 kilometres in North Karelia. The total cost of the project is €362 million.

The fence is designed to strengthen Finland’s ability to counter wide-ranging influence operations by Russia, including orchestrated attempts to channel large numbers of asylum seekers toward Finnish border crossing points.