Finland Has Drastically Reinforced Its Border With Russia
- 18.09.2026, 15:50
Officials in Helsinki explained what has changed as a result of the “hybrid war.”
Following the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Finland has completely overhauled its approach to securing its eastern border. Helsinki closed its land border with Russia and has now completed the construction of approximately 200 kilometers of barriers, according to Fox News.
The Political Director of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Petri Hakkarainen, stated that Moscow had used migration as a tool to exert pressure on the country. Russian authorities directed migrants toward the Finnish border, placing a strain on the asylum system.
“We have already seen attempts by Russia to use migrants at the Finnish border as a tool of pressure,” Hakkaraisen said.
After Finland joined NATO in April 2023, more than 1,300 migrants without visas found themselves at the country’s eastern border. Helsinki viewed the situation as part of a “hybrid war” and, at the end of that same year, closed all land border crossings with Russia. Moscow called this decision “Russophobic.”
Closing the border proved to be a very effective measure. At the same time, Finnish authorities gained additional powers following the adoption of a temporary law on border security. It allows them to restrict the acceptance of asylum applications and turn back migrants if the authorities believe that a foreign state is organizing a flow of people with the aim of destabilizing Finland.
Hakkarainen believes that the changes in security policy are linked not only to the current situation but also to a long-term assessment of the threat from Moscow.
“We consider Russia a long-term threat to transatlantic security,” said a spokesperson for the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the same time, officials in Helsinki emphasize that border reinforcement does not disrupt the country’s normal life. Finland continues to strengthen its infrastructure along the border with Russia, which stretches approximately 1,340 kilometers and is Russia’s longest border with a NATO member state.