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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Finland Completes 200-Kilometer Fence Along Russian Border to Block Migrant Pressure

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

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

At a glance

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  • Finland has completed a 200-kilometer, 4.5-meter-high fence covering about 15% of its 1,300-kilometer border with Russia.
  • Helsinki says Russia has deliberately directed migrants toward the border as a hybrid operation, while Finland closed all eastern border crossings in December 2023.
  • The government has also proposed extending a temporary law that could restrict asylum applications in some border areas through the end of 2028, drawing criticism from rights groups and experts.

Finland has completed a 200-kilometer fence along strategic points of its border with Russia, presenting it as a key defense against what it calls migrant pressure organized by Moscow. The structure stands 4.5 meters high and includes patrol roads and camera-based surveillance systems.

The completed section covers about 15% of Finland's roughly 1,300-kilometer border with Russia. The government says it can build additional sections if necessary. The project began after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and Finland's decision to abandon decades of military nonalignment and join NATO in April 2023.

Without a border fence, migrant pressure cannot be controlled efficiently and reliably.

· Markku HassinenThe Finnish Border Guard chief explained why authorities consider the fence necessary.

Since Finland joined NATO, more than 1,000 nationals of third countries without proper travel documents have arrived at the Russian border. Finnish authorities accuse Russia of deliberately directing them there as a hybrid operation designed to burden Finland's border controls and asylum system and increase social and political disorder. Finland closed all border crossings on its eastern frontier in December 2023.

Today the situation is calm but tense, and we really do not know what will happen tomorrow.

· Mari RantanenThe interior minister described the security environment behind the fence project.

Finnish officials describe the fence as part of an integrated border-management system, not merely a physical barrier. Border Guard chief Markku Hassinen said it was needed to control migrant pressure efficiently and reliably. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said the situation was calm but tense and could change quickly, adding that the fence would support surveillance and help prevent people from entering Finnish territory when necessary.

The government has separately asked Parliament to extend through the end of 2028 a temporary border security law that allows asylum applications to be restricted in certain areas. Human rights groups and experts say the measure could conflict with Finland's constitution, including the principle prohibiting refoulement.

The situation can change very quickly, so we must be extremely well prepared.

· Mari RantanenShe justified continued preparations along the eastern border.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. 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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