Finland considers installing Ukrainian-style anti-tank barriers to strengthen Russian border
Finland is exploring the possibility of installing anti-tank obstacles modelled on Ukrainian ones to fortify its border with Russia and strengthen defences on NATO's eastern flank.
Source: Bloomberg; European Pravda
Details: Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, Commander of the Finnish Army, stated in an interview that Russia had already begun rebuilding its military capacity, even though its full-scale invasion of Ukraine is well into its fifth year.
In this conflict, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have used extensive defensive lines and anti-tank obstacles to slow down the attackers. The occupiers have not found a reliable way to break through them and resume large-scale movement and manoeuvres, Välimäki noted.
Sharing a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia – which accounts for about half of NATO's land border with that country – Finland must determine how structures similar to those used in Ukraine would fare in harsh northern weather conditions.
Quote from Välimäki: "Conditions in Finland are more challenging. If we build fortifications and dig anti-tank ditches or obstacles as deep as those in Ukraine, how long does it take before our environment turns them into artificial ponds?"
Details: According to the commander, Russia's efforts to replenish its weapons stockpiles are starting to yield some results, with T-90 tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and 2S19 self-propelled howitzers being delivered to storage sites.
Finland lacks the capacity to prevent this rearmament. Instead, the goal is to deter Russia by convincing its military that an attack would fail, he said.
Quote from Välimäki: "Everything we are doing now is about creating a threshold so that Russia does not go any further, whether we are talking about the alliance or Finland."
Details: Finland continued the practice of conscription and maintained territorial defence reserves after the end of the Cold War, even as many European nations reduced their armed forces. Despite a population of just 5.6 million, its military can mobilise about 280,000 troops in the event of war.
Quote from Välimäki: "When the war in Ukraine began, we improved our readiness and put 60,000 people through refresher training over two years."
Details: Currently, Finland is carrying out a reorganisation of its land forces that will run through to the end of the 2030s, covering equipment, armed forces structure, combat readiness and the capacity for sustained combat operations. The basic approach – deterring an attack through readiness – has not changed, Välimäki noted. Only the required scale has changed.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!