Finland does not plan to fence off its entire 1,300-km-long eastern border, but a project is progressing on the construction of approximately 200km of fixed fencing at key border points.
It is now possible that Finnish authorities will commission the construction of further temporary barriers along the country's sparsely populated border with Russia.
The Finnish Border Guard will not revealed the precise location of any new barriers or what their structure will be, Commander Kimmo Ahvonen of the Border Guard's central staff told Yle.
About 70 percent of the eastern border is coniferous or mixed forest. Lakes, the sea and other watercourses make up 10 percent of the border.
Temporary barriers that are already in place have been constructed using concertina razor wire known as Nato wire, as were the barrier set up at border crossing points when they were closed last autumn.
Temporary barriers are only one way to prevent illegal border crossings.
"Guarding the border is a package. It involves patrolling, technical controls and the use of aircraft, as well as various barrier structures," says Samuli Murtonen, deputy commander of the North Karelia Border Guard.
For security reasons, the Border Guard will not say exactly what kind of technology it uses. It is known that there are various types of camera surveillance and radar systems along the border.
Around 200 trained canines also work with the Border Guard.
Temporary barriers also worthwhile
Jukka Savolainen, Community of Interest Director at the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE), says that he supports all measures that create the impression that Finland is not an easy route into the EU.
According to Savolainen, temporary barriers, such as those constructed of razor wire, are also suitable for this purpose.
"It is indeed some kind of practical obstacle. You can't walk through it," he notes.
However, Jukka Savolainen does not want to advise the Border Guard on where along the border barriers should be set up.
"Any increase in obstacles can, in principle, be a major security issue for Finland," he says.
In Savolainen's view, these barriers are needed, because Finland's eastern border is potentially even more vulnerable than the Mediterranean.
"An irregular migrant brought to the Finnish border only has to cross a ten-meter border gap and is then in Finland," he points out.
Fence construction continues as planned
Deputy Commander Heikki Ahtiainen of the Southeastern Finland Border Guard declined to comment on the construction plans for any temporary barriers.
In North Karelia, at least, some temporary fences have been built in areas where a permanent barrier is planned.
The construction schedule of the sections of a fixed barrier along the border remains unchanged. Construction of the fence is scheduled to begin in late winter. A three-kilometre-long pilot fence along the southeastern border with Russia was completed last September.
In total, around 200 kilometres of fixed fence is to be built, mainly in southeast Finland, and is scheduled for competition in 2026 at an estimated cost of 380 million euros.
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