Finland has started building a 200 km (124 miles) barrier along its border with Russia to increase security.
According to the Border Patrol, it will be 3 meters (10 feet) tall and have barbed wire on top.
Finland and Russia have the 1,340 km longest shared border in the European Union (832 miles). At the moment, Finland’s borders are mainly protected by thin timber walls.
Finland made the decision to erect the fence in response to an increase in Russians trying to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, the Nordic nation took another step toward joining NATO. With a vote anticipated on Wednesday, its parliament began discussing a plan to expedite the nation’s application.
Forest clearing began on Tuesday in preparation for fence construction at the Imatra border crossing. Road work and fence installation are scheduled to begin in March.
Some fence portions will be equipped with night vision cameras, lights, and loudspeakers.
Imatra’s 3km trial project should be finished by the end of June, according to the Border Guard.
In order to permit the construction of stronger walls, Finland’s Border Guard Act was updated in July. The current wooden fences’ primary purpose is to stop livestock from crossing the border.
Finland has worked to fortify its eastern border in the wake of Russia’s total invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, which led to a large-scale exodus of Russians to Finland in September.
What exactly is NATO and how does it support Ukraine?
Finland and Sweden both made the decision to join NATO as soon as possible after remaining neutral for years in the wake of Russia’s invasion on February 24 of last year.
The Finnish administration wants to advance even before Finland’s general elections in April, although Helsinki confronts fewer diplomatic obstacles than Stockholm.
The applications from Finland and Sweden to join the defensive alliance are still awaiting approval from Turkey and Hungary.
