Finland Completes Construction of Russian Border Fence

Sep. 8, 2026 The new border fence between Finland and Russia. raja.fi Finland has completed construction on a 200-kilometer (124-mile) fence along its eastern border with Russia, three years after the project began, the Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported Monday. Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen presented the completed fence near a shuttered border crossing, saying the barrier addresses heightened security risks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and could be extended further. “What we particularly need is EU funding for eastern member states so that projects like this can be financed,” Rantanen said. The new fence cost 356 million euros ($413 million), with an estimated 2-3 million euros for annual maintenance, according to Finnish border authorities. The barbed wire fence spans Finland’s southeastern border with Russia and parts of its eastern flank. It features patrol roads, loudspeakers, night lighting and surveillance cameras. Russia and Finland share a 1,340-kilometer (833-mile) border, the longest of any EU or NATO member. Similar fences have been erected in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland on their borders with Belarus to stem migrants from crossing. Finland shut its eastern border crossings with Russia indefinitely in December 2023 following an influx of asylum seekers. Helsinki claimed the influx was a so-called “hybrid attack” in retaliation for Finland joining NATO in April 2023. The Kremlin has rejected those accusations. Over the summer, Russia closed five railway border checkpoints with Finland without disclosing the reasons or when they might reopen. The Finnish government last week proposed an extension of its Border Security Act until Dec. 31, 2028 — a temporary one-year law that allows border guards to turn away asylum seekers under certain circumstances. AFP contributed reporting. Read more about: Finland Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Says Baltic Sea Cable Damaged by ‘External Impact' "Some time ago in the Baltic Sea a Rostelecom underwater cable was damaged as the result of external impact," Rostelecom's operator said. 1 Min read Finland Moves to Ban Russian Nationals From Buying Property A government proposal would bar individuals from nations “waging a war of aggression” from buying property in the country. 1 Min read Former Finnish President ‘Annoyed’ Europe Not Talking to Kremlin About Ending War Sauli Niinistö said that Europe should be involved in dialogue with Moscow about ending the invasion of Ukraine. 3 Min read Moscow Summons Finnish Ambassador Over Property Seizures A Finnish court ordered the confiscation of $4.25 billion in Russian-owned assets at the request of Ukraine’s national gas provider Naftogaz. 1 Min read