Finland’s new £300m fence along Russian border derided as a ‘complete joke’

The £300 million Finnish border fence, intended to counter the potential threat of a Russian invasion, has been ridiculed by Finns as an ‘utter joke’.

The flimsy-looking green fence along part of Finland’s 808-mile border — construction of which began in February in the town of Imatra to counter the threat of a Russian invasion and migrants pouring in from Ukraine’s war — has been compared with a ‘dog kennel fence’.

Critics have attacked the useless-looking fence for its shoddy green color, apparent lack of barbed wire, spikes or surveillance system to keep out intrusive migrants.

One Twitter user wrote: ‘It would be suitable as a fence for a nice dog kennel. Otherwise it’s a joke.’

The Border Guard has posted new images of the barrier on Twitter, writing: “Upon completion, the Eastern Border Barrier will detect and slow down unauthorized border crossings, monitor their movements and prevent immediate passage.

The flimsy-looking 1,300-kilometer green fence — construction of which began in February in the city of Imatra to prevent “massive illegal immigration” into the country — has been likened to a “dog kennel fence” by a social media user

‘In a situation of large-scale illegal immigration, a fence is necessary. Even in a basic situation it helps our work.’

The first section of the fence was completed in April, less than two weeks after Finland joined NATO’s military alliance in case Russia decides to flood the border with migrants as part of its subtle “hybrid war plans,” according to Reuters.

According to Aftonbladet, the image of the green fence is completely different from the images shared by the border guard in the fall, where the fence appeared more robust, was gray and had barbed wire at the top.

However, Jussi P Laine, a professor at the University of Eastern Finland, said the fence was a terrible idea from the start.

“Yeah, that fence pilot was watching then and looks like a complete joke,” he tells Iltalehti.

Expected to be completed in three to four years, the fence will be 200 kilometers long.

Laine added that building the fence is a waste of taxpayers’ money and that ultimately it is the contractor who benefits.

In response to the comments, the border guard responded on Twitter by posting a photo of the fence with barbed wire on it.

The fence was built near the Pelkola crossing in Imatra

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, chairman of the Social Democratic Party pictured on April 2, 2023

They explained that the initial gray fence design will be built, but nevertheless confirmed that the barrier is not intended to act as a military barrier in its own right, but is part of a larger body of border control.

“This is what the pilot of the eastern border barrier being built in Imatra’s Pelkola looks like now. The construction of the fence is progressing as planned. There will still be a barbed wire barrier on top of the unfinished pilot fence,” they explained.

One disappointed user said he “hopes” the barbed wire is added “at an angle,” suggesting he could easily climb over the fence if it’s “straight.”

He said: ‘I hope the barbed wire is slanted, because I, a 42-year-old man, will go over that fence in 20 seconds and 10 seconds if I take my shoes off and put my toes in those holes. If the barbed wire is straight up, then with the help of a rag mat in more than 30 seconds.’

The border guard responded: ‘The barrier is a whole formed by a fence, the road next to it and a treeless opening, as well as a technical control system, which will be an important tool in border surveillance. The fence in itself is not a solution to a threat, but is part of the whole of border surveillance.’