Finland moves forward in protecting its Russian border by constructing giant fence
The Nordic nation began replacing its previous wooden border wall with a steel one to prevent a hypothetical invasion and curb illegal immigration.
Two weeks after its entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was finalized, Finland is moving ahead with the construction of a fence on its border with Russia. A boundary that extends more than 830 miles, it is the longest perimeter shared with Russia of any country in Europe.
The border fence will be made of steel, topped with barbed wire and will be about ten feet high. This will replace the current one, which is made of wood. The Finnish authorities aim to prevent a hypothetical invasion and to control the crossing of irregular immigrants fleeing Vladimir Putin's regime.
Finland started with the execution of the first phase of construction a few days ago in the town of Imatra, in the southeast of the Nordic country. This initiative proposed by the Finnish Border Guard in October last year was set in motion after the start of the Ukrainian war. Brigadier General Jari Tolppanen, head of the Finnish Border Guard's technical division, told The Associated Press: