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🇩🇪 Germany /Conflict & Security

Amid Russian threat, Finland completes fence along Russian border

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Finland has completed a 200-kilometer fence along its border with Russia after two years of construction.
  • The barrier includes a roughly 4.5-meter-high fence and a technical surveillance system, covering sections selected for operational need and cost efficiency.
  • Finnish officials link the project to heightened border tensions and accusations that Russia instrumentalized migration after the invasion of Ukraine.

After two years of construction, NATO member Finland has completed a 200-kilometer fence along its border with Russia. The barrier covers selected sections of the more than 1,300-kilometer frontier.

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said, “The most important task of the state is to ensure the security of its citizens.” She described the eastern border fence as an essential part of an effective border-security system in unpredictable times.

The most important task of the state is to ensure the security of its citizens.

· Mari RantanenFinland’s interior minister explained the government’s justification for completing the eastern border fence.

Construction began in August 2024 at sections where the Finnish Border Guard said the operational need was greatest and building the barrier made the most economic sense. The installation includes a fence about 4.5 meters high and a technical surveillance system.

The eastern border fence is an essential part of an effective border-security system in these unpredictable times.

· Mari RantanenRantanen described the fence’s role in Finland’s border-security policy.

Security conditions along the border have been tense since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Finland closed its land border crossings with Russia in December 2023 after accusing Moscow of deliberately bringing migrants to the border to create unrest.

Markku Hassinen, head of Finland’s Border Guard, said, “Without a border fence, it is not possible to combat instrumentalized entry effectively, credibly and safely.”

Without a border fence, it is not possible to combat instrumentalized entry effectively, credibly and safely.

· Markku HassinenThe Finnish Border Guard chief linked the fence to accusations of instrumentalized migration at the Russian border.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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