Finland ‘preparing for the worst’ as Russia expands border presence

Finland is ramping up security along its eastern border, warning of a potential Russian troop buildup once the war in Ukraine ends. The development comes as Helsinki continues to bolster its border security with a new fence aimed at deterring hybrid threats.

Finland says it expects Russia to further build up troops along their shared border once the war in Ukraine ends, following reports that Moscow has recently reinforced military bases near the NATO frontier. The warning comes as Helsinki continues efforts to strengthen its eastern border with a new security fence.

Major General Sami Nurmi, Head of Strategy for the Finnish Defence Forces, said the military is monitoring Russian activity “very closely” and emphasized the need to prepare for the worst as part of Finland’s NATO responsibilities. He noted that Russia is modifying military infrastructure near the border and is likely to redeploy land forces currently fighting in Ukraine once the war ends.

Amid rising tensions, Finland has completed the first kilometers of a planned 200-kilometer, 4.5-meter-high fence along its 1,344-kilometer border with Russia. Topped with barbed wire and equipped with surveillance systems, the barrier is designed to deter unauthorized crossings and manage potential security threats.

Border officials say the fence became necessary after Finland accused Russia of deliberately sending migrants across the border in 2023. That year, around 1,300 asylum seekers from countries like Syria and Somalia entered Finland via Russia, prompting the government to close all eight passenger border crossings indefinitely. Although migrant arrivals have nearly stopped since the closure, Finnish authorities say the fence is essential to improving border monitoring and readiness.

Samuel Siljanen, Head of Operations for the Southeast Finland Border Guard, said most of the fence will be built in the southeast, a region that has seen the most border incidents. “It’s a higher-risk area for us,” he noted, adding that 140 kilometers of the fence will be constructed there.

Deputy Commander Antti Virta said the barrier is a necessary tool for controlling potential mass entries. “Based on our experience and that of other EU countries, this is the best solution for now, especially if people try to enter Finland illegally by force,” he said.

Russia has denied orchestrating the migrant flows, while the European Court of Human Rights has asked Finland to justify the indefinite closure of its border crossings.

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