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.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced Finland's ambition to host a European AI gigafactory. The move aims to boost national growth by building on the success of the LUMI supercomputer, with telecommunications giant Nokia poised to lead the project's business consortium.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the strong Kazakh-Finnish partnership and expressed willingness to deepen ties, while the OSCE Chairperson praised Kazakhstan's growing regional influence and cooperation.
Türkiye and Finland have signed a Defence Industry Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening collaboration between the two NATO allies through joint production, technology exchange, and the development of defence capabilities.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has called on the United States to implement tougher sanctions against Russia, as the EU prepares its next sanctions package.
Ukraine and Finland have launched a coalition to build thousands of civil defense shelters, with Kyiv urging global support to bolster wartime readiness.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran’s top diplomat on Sunday issued a stark condemnation of the United States following overnight military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that Washington had crossed a "very big red line" and would be held "fully responsible" for the consequences.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The United States' military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday triggered sharply divided reactions from the international community, with Israel lauding the move as a historic decision while Iran, the United Nations, and numerous other nations condemned the attack.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iran has strongly condemned the recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, calling them a violation of the UN Charter, international law, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Eight men were arrested Friday morning following a violent clash near the Iranian embassy in London, police confirmed.
Global investors are bracing for significant market turmoil when trading reopens, with analysts predicting a sharp spike in oil prices and a flight to safe-haven assets following the United States' announcement of military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran’s top diplomat on Sunday issued a stark condemnation of the United States following overnight military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring that Washington had crossed a "very big red line" and would be held "fully responsible" for the consequences.
A chorus of condemnation emerged from Latin America on Sunday as leaders from Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia denounced the United States for its recent airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
The United States' military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities Sunday triggered sharply divided reactions from the international community, with Israel lauding the move as a historic decision while Iran, the United Nations, and numerous other nations condemned the attack.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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