Finland Begins Construction of Barrier Wall Along Border with Russia

Finland has announced that it will construct a barrier fence along the border it shares with Russia, following the country’s decision to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The project will begin with a pilot phase, which will be 3 kilometers long in order to test the barrier’s capabilities before completing the entire project. The full barrier is expected to take three to four years to build, depending on funding and the smoothness of the construction process.

Finland’s decision to construct a barrier fence along its border with Russia comes in response to the changing security environment caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish parliament recently approved the country’s joining NATO, a decision that was motivated in part by concerns over Russia’s aggressive behavior towards its neighbors. The barrier fence will be constructed in phases, with a pilot phase already underway that will test the barrier’s capabilities before the entire project is completed.

The full barrier will be about 130 to 260 kilometers long and is expected to take three to four years to build. The pilot phase of construction has already begun in Pelkola, Finland, at the Imatra border crossing point, and is expected to be completed by the end of June. The barrier will be constructed using a combination of road construction, fence installation, and the installation of a technical surveillance system that will monitor the area near the barrier.

After the barrier is completed, landowners in the area near the border will be paid a lump sum for any permanent damage and harm caused by the construction. The barrier will also have a road for the movement and maintenance of border patrols near the fence under construction.