Migrants with military pasts seek gaps in Finland's border fence

Growing numbers of people trying to enter Finland illegally from Russia have military backgrounds and are seeking routes where the new border fence does not reach, Finnish border guards say.

Finnish tracked vehicles in convoy at an undisclosed training ground less than 50 kilometres from the Russian border in Finland.

PAP/PA/Ben Birchall

The border guard told public broadcaster Yle that more of those attempting crossings have experience of moving through difficult terrain. Some are trying to escape recruitment to fight in Ukraine, Yle reported in a programme broadcast on Tuesday.

Finland announced last month that it had finished building its eastern border barrier. At about 200 kilometres, it covers just 15% of the 1,300-kilometre frontier with Russia. The metal fence stands 3.5 metres high and is topped with coiled barbed wire.

Col. Matti Pitkaniitty of the border guard's headquarters said the 140-kilometre stretch in the south-east, near the main crossings that handle traffic from St Petersburg, including Imatra and Lappeenranta, acts as a deterrent. Farther north, in Karelia, the fence extends only about 30 kilometres.

Finland sealed its entire eastern border in December 2023, after around 1,000 migrants from third countries arrived from Russia in the autumn to seek asylum. Some crossed on bicycles despite the onset of winter.

Work on the fence began in 2024 and finished on schedule.

(jh)

Source: PAP