Finland prepared to build large-scale fortifications on border with Russia

Finland has carried out some fortification work along its eastern border, following the example of the Baltic states and Poland, but plans to build large-scale defensive structures only in the event of an attack.

Source: Finnish public service media company Yle, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Finland has not begun fortifying its eastern border in advance, unlike the Baltic states and Poland. Pekka Toveri, former head of Finnish military intelligence, said the terrain makes it harder for an enemy to advance, making a Russian attack more difficult.

"Finland's terrain and climate favour the defender more than the attacker. Attacking in Finnish terrain is quite difficult," the military officer noted.

Toveri said Finland maintained and developed its fortification capabilities throughout the post-war period. The latest lessons have been learned from the war in Ukraine.

Finnish fortifications are currently built mainly from prefabricated elements that can simply be assembled at pre-selected locations. This means they can be erected quickly if the situation requires it.

Background:

• At the Polish-Russian border, Polish troops demonstrated a section of an engineering barrier being built as part of the East Shield programme.
• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland previously announced that they would ask the European Union to fund the construction of a network of bunkers, barriers, defensive lines and military depots along their borders with Russia and Belarus.

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