Finland has completed the first 35 km (22 miles) of a 4.5-metre (15-ft) high fence it is building on its closed eastern border with Russia to stop migrants from crossing via the wilderness, the Finnish Border Guard said on Wednesday.

Finland is "closely monitoring and assessing Russia’s activities and intentions" near the Finnish border, the country's Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen told AFP on May 22. The comments come after reports that Finland expects a Russian military build-up on its borders after the war in Ukraine ends.

Finland expects a Russian military build up on its borders after the war in Ukraine ends, the Guardian reported on May 21. Maj Gen Sami Nurmi, the head of strategy of the Finnish defence forces said in an interview that the Russian military has begun "moderate preparations when it comes to building infrastructure" close to Finnish borders.