Norway might put a fence along part or all of the 198-kilometre border it shares with Russia, the government said during the weekend. The Storskog border station, which has witnessed only a handful of illegal border crossing attempts in the past few years, is the only official crossing point into Norway from Russia.

Norway might put a fence along part or all of the 198-kilometre border it shares with Russia, the government said during the weekend. The Storskog border station, which has witnessed only a handful of illegal border crossing attempts in the past few years, is the only official crossing point into Norway from Russia. In an interview with public broadcaster NRK, which was published on Saturday (Sep 28), Justice Minister Emilie Mehl said that her government was looking at “several measures” to beef up security on the border with Russia in the Arctic North. “A border fence is very interesting, not only because it can act as a deterrent but also because it contains sensors and technology that allow you to detect if people are moving close to the border,” Justice Minister Mehl said. Also read | NATO in line of fire as Ukraine reportedly given nod to use Storm Shadow missiles Mehl added that should the security situation in the delicate Arctic area worsen, the Norwegian government was ready to close the border on short notice. Inspiration from Finland Inspired by Finland’s project, Enger Mehl said that such a fence could also be a good idea for Norway. According to the NRK, her statement was supported by police chief Ellen Katrine Hætta in Norway’s northern Finnmark county. The Storskog border station is currently surrounded by a 200-metre (660-foot) -long and 3.5-metre (12-foot) -high fence erected in 2016 after some 5,000 migrants and asylum-seekers had crossed over from Russia to Norway a year earlier. Why Finland closed all crossing points from Russia? In late 2023, the Finnish government was prompted to close all crossing points from Russia to Finland after over 1,300 third-country migrants without proper documentation or visas entered the country in three months. These migrants entered Finland just months after the country became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Finland is currently building fences with a total length of up to 200 kilometres (124 miles) in separate sections along the border zone that makes up part of NATO’s northern flank and serves as the European Union’s external border, a report by the news agency Associated Press said. According to border officials, fences equipped with top-notch surveillance equipment were needed to better monitor and control any migrants attempting to cross over from Russia and give officials time to react. (With inputs from agencies)

In move inspired by Finland, Norway may build fence on its border with Russia

In response to a surge in Russian tourists travelling to Europe, Finland will reduce the number of visas granted to Russians beginning on September 1.

According to the ministry, Finland would reduce daily visa application appointments in Russia from 1,000 to 500, with only 100 set aside for tourists.&nbsp;After a number of Western nations restricted their airspace to Russian planes in reaction to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Finnish land border crossings have remained among the few access ports into Europe for Russians.

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Following Russia's easing of pandemic-related border restrictions a month ago, Russian tourists started utilising Finland's Helsinki-Vantaa airport as a gateway to European vacation spots, and the Finnish government on Tuesday agreed to limit their numbers.

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Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish foreign minister told reporters, "And this maybe is not very appropriate if we, for example, think of the airspace restrictions put in place for Russia."

According to Haavisto, Finland and the Baltic nations would also suggest that the European Union terminate its visa facilitation deal with Russia, which facilitates Russians' travel to and within the EU.

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Sanna Marin, the prime minister of Finland, and Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, are among the EU leaders who have called for an EU-wide visa ban.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagreed with this position on Monday, saying Russians should be allowed to leave their home country if they disagree with the government.&nbsp;As per Haavisto, Finland was considering developing a national humanitarian visa that would be available to Russians who wanted to leave or travel to Europe for reasons such as advocacy or journalism.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In response to a surge in Russian tourists travelling to Europe, Finland will reduce the number of visas granted to Russians beginning on September 1. According to the ministry, Finland would reduce daily visa application appointments in Russia from 1,000 to 500, with only 100 set aside for tourists.

In response to a surge in Russian tourists travelling to Europe, Finland will reduce the number of visas granted to Russians beginning on September 1. According to the ministry, Finland would reduce daily visa application appointments in Russia from 1,000 to 500, with only 100 set aside for tourists. After a number of Western nations restricted their airspace to Russian planes in reaction to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Finnish land border crossings have remained among the few access ports into Europe for Russians. Watch | WION Fineprint | Ukraine nuclear plant standoff stirs Chernobyl memories Following Russia's easing of pandemic-related border restrictions a month ago, Russian tourists started utilising Finland's Helsinki-Vantaa airport as a gateway to European vacation spots, and the Finnish government on Tuesday agreed to limit their numbers. Also read | 'Mother Heroine': Vladimir Putin revives Soviet-era award for mothers of ten or more kids Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish foreign minister told reporters, "And this maybe is not very appropriate if we, for example, think of the airspace restrictions put in place for Russia." According to Haavisto, Finland and the Baltic nations would also suggest that the European Union terminate its visa facilitation deal with Russia, which facilitates Russians' travel to and within the EU. Also read | Explosions rock ammunition depot in Russia-controlled Crimea, Ukraine's role suspected Sanna Marin, the prime minister of Finland, and Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, are among the EU leaders who have called for an EU-wide visa ban. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagreed with this position on Monday, saying Russians should be allowed to leave their home country if they disagree with the government. As per Haavisto, Finland was considering developing a national humanitarian visa that would be available to Russians who wanted to leave or travel to Europe for reasons such as advocacy or journalism. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Finland limits visas to Russian tourists who were using nation as a gateway to Europe amid sanctions

Amid the war in Ukraine, Finland's armed forces chief General Timo Kivinen asserted that it has systematically developed its military defence while adding that "Ukraine has been a tough bite to chew for Russia and so would be Finland."

"We have systematically developed our military defence precisely for this type of warfare that is being waged there (in Ukraine), with a massive use of firepower, armoured forces and also Air Forces," Kivinen said.

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Finland has applied for NATO membership even as the war in Ukraine continues with Russian forces fighting fierce battles with the Ukrainian Army in the eastern region.&nbsp;

"The most important line of defence is between one's ears, as the war in Ukraine proves at the moment," he added. Reports claim the country is eying US F-35 fighter jets including warships as it prepares to boost its military.

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Finland is also reportedly ordering drones and anti-aircraft equipment as it seeks to deter Russia. Turkey had earlier expressed its displeasure over Sweden and Finland's entry into the alliance over its alleged support to Kurdish militants and arms embargo on Turkey.

Kivinen said although Finland would benefit if they enter NATO but added that "the main responsibility for Finland's defence will still be borne by Finland".

Turkey has insisted that there is still time for Finland's entry into the European military alliance with negotiations set to continue. NATO membership has to be unanimously agreed upon by all 30 nations.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Amid the war in Ukraine, Finland's armed forces chief General Timo Kivinen asserted that it has systematically developed its military defence while adding that "Ukraine has been a tough bite to chew for Russia and so would be Finland.

Amid the war in Ukraine, Finland's armed forces chief General Timo Kivinen asserted that it has systematically developed its military defence while adding that "Ukraine has been a tough bite to chew for Russia and so would be Finland." "We have systematically developed our military defence precisely for this type of warfare that is being waged there (in Ukraine), with a massive use of firepower, armoured forces and also Air Forces," Kivinen said. Also Read: Lithuania says ready to face power grid disconnection Finland has applied for NATO membership even as the war in Ukraine continues with Russian forces fighting fierce battles with the Ukrainian Army in the eastern region. "The most important line of defence is between one's ears, as the war in Ukraine proves at the moment," he added. Reports claim the country is eying US F-35 fighter jets including warships as it prepares to boost its military. Watch: Russia eyes Arctic dominance, Canada & US play catch-up Finland is also reportedly ordering drones and anti-aircraft equipment as it seeks to deter Russia. Turkey had earlier expressed its displeasure over Sweden and Finland's entry into the alliance over its alleged support to Kurdish militants and arms embargo on Turkey. Kivinen said although Finland would benefit if they enter NATO but added that "the main responsibility for Finland's defence will still be borne by Finland". Turkey has insisted that there is still time for Finland's entry into the European military alliance with negotiations set to continue. NATO membership has to be unanimously agreed upon by all 30 nations. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine a tough bite to chew and so would be Finland, says armed forces chief on Russian invasion

Finland's government plans to amend border legislation to allow the building of barriers on its eastern frontier with Russia, it said on Thursday, in a move to strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Finland, which is currently applying for membership in the Western military alliance NATO, has a history of wars with Russia, although currently the forest-covered border zone between the two countries is marked merely with signs and plastic lines for most of its 1,300-km (810-mile) length.

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The Finnish government has rushed to strengthen border security as it fears Russia could attempt to put pressure on Finland by sending asylum seekers to its borders, as the European Union accused Belarus of doing at the end of last year when hundreds of migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa got stuck on the Polish border.

The government's amendments to the law include a proposal to enable concentrating the reception of asylum applications only at specific points of entry.

Under existing EU rules, migrants have the right to ask for asylum at any given entry point to an EU member country.

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The amendments would also allow the building of barriers such as fences, as well as new roads to facilitate border patrolling on the Finnish side.

"Later on, the government will decide on border barriers to the critical zones on the eastern border, on the basis of the Finnish Border Guard's assessment," minister of internal affairs Krista Mikkonen said in a statement.

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Finland's government plans to amend border legislation to allow the building of barriers on its eastern frontier with Russia, it said on Thursday, in a move to strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Finland's government plans to amend border legislation to allow the building of barriers on its eastern frontier with Russia, it said on Thursday, in a move to strengthen preparedness against hybrid threats amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland, which is currently applying for membership in the Western military alliance NATO, has a history of wars with Russia, although currently the forest-covered border zone between the two countries is marked merely with signs and plastic lines for most of its 1,300-km (810-mile) length. Also read | As Finland applies for NATO membership, Finnish women sign up for military training The Finnish government has rushed to strengthen border security as it fears Russia could attempt to put pressure on Finland by sending asylum seekers to its borders, as the European Union accused Belarus of doing at the end of last year when hundreds of migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa got stuck on the Polish border. The government's amendments to the law include a proposal to enable concentrating the reception of asylum applications only at specific points of entry. Under existing EU rules, migrants have the right to ask for asylum at any given entry point to an EU member country. Also read | Russia-Ukraine conflict: Finnish women take up weapons 'just in case' of an attack The amendments would also allow the building of barriers such as fences, as well as new roads to facilitate border patrolling on the Finnish side. "Later on, the government will decide on border barriers to the critical zones on the eastern border, on the basis of the Finnish Border Guard's assessment," minister of internal affairs Krista Mikkonen said in a statement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Finland plans to build barriers on its border with Russia

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Finnish women take up weapons 'just in case' of an attack