Finland Ramps Up Smart Border Security with AI-Equipped Fence on Russian Frontier

Finland is accelerating its efforts to fortify its eastern frontier with Russia by expanding the construction of a high-tech border fence designed to bolster national security amid growing regional threats. The structure, which will ultimately span 140 kilometers, is being outfitted with artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems capable of accurately identifying human activity and filtering out false alarms caused by animals.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to the Finnish media Yle.

At a press briefing, Deputy Commander of Finland’s Southeast Border Guard, Antti Virta, confirmed that construction is proceeding on schedule. So far, 35 kilometers of the fence have been erected between the Vaalimaa and Parikkala border crossings.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Esa Veikkanen, the surveillance infrastructure includes state-of-the-art cameras and sensor systems powered by AI. These cameras are specifically calibrated to avoid false alarms triggered by wildlife, improving operational efficiency. The fence will also be equipped with both day and night vision capabilities and loudspeaker systems to issue instructions when necessary.

The design has been refined based on insights from a pilot section built in Imatra, which led to structural improvements, including an increase in height and the use of more durable materials that are harder to breach.

In total, 140 kilometers of fencing will be constructed in 17 key locations along the Finnish-Russian border. Authorities expect the full structure to be completed by the end of next year.

This initiative follows Finland’s decision in November 2023 to close several border crossings with Russia in response to a spike in asylum seekers. The Finnish Border Guard subsequently proposed the fence as part of broader national security enhancements driven by shifting geopolitical conditions.

Finland’s move reflects a wider trend among European nations. Estonia, for instance, is set to begin building defensive structures, including bunkers, along its own border with Russia later this year.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has called for a tougher stance on Russia by reducing the current oil price cap to $40 per barrel, down from the current $60.