Finland waits to fortify eastern border as Baltic states build defences

Finland is preparing to fortify parts of its eastern border if the security situation requires it, rather than building defences in advance like the Baltic states and Poland, Yle reports. Former Finnish Defence Forces intelligence chief Pekka Toveri says the country would have time to act if a Russian attack threatened.

Estonia recently presented its section of a Baltic defence line, made up of anti-tank barriers, bunkers and trenches. Poland is building a large chain of fortifications along its eastern border, called the Eastern Shield.

The countries have drawn lessons from the war in Ukraine, where attacks and counterattacks have often been stopped by heavily fortified defensive lines. The conflict has renewed interest in fortifications, which had previously been regarded by many as an outdated and overly static form of warfare.

Toveri, now a member of the European Parliament, said Finland is also preparing to fortify parts of its eastern border and would begin work as soon as necessary. Preparations have already been made, he said.

Terrain favours Finland’s defenders

Toveri said Finland’s terrain and climate give defenders an advantage. Forests, swamps, rocky ground and waterways would make it difficult for an enemy to advance even without fortifications, and could also be used to organise a defence.

By contrast, he said, the terrain in the Baltic states and Poland is more favourable to an attacker, making fortifications useful to prevent a rapid advance inland. The Baltic countries also lack the strategic depth to fight battles far inside their own territory, he said: an enemy advance of 100 kilometres could leave them with little chance of reversing the situation.

Finland’s aim would not be to let Russian forces fight on Finnish soil, Toveri said. Under NATO’s approach, an attacker would be struck back on Russian territory or, at the latest, near the border.

Defences can be assembled quickly

Toveri said Finland has maintained and developed its ability to build fortifications throughout the post-war period, drawing its latest lessons from the war in Ukraine. Finnish fortifications are largely made from ready-made components that can be assembled at preselected locations.

He believes there would be enough time to put them in place because intelligence would give warning of Russian preparations. Russia would need to make extensive preparations to be able to launch a ground attack on Finland, he said, and those preparations would be detected.

During earlier wars, Finland built the Salpalinja, a defensive line along the eastern border. Anti-tank stones from the line can still be found in the terrain, including in Rutola, Lappeenranta.