Latvia completes border fence along its frontier with Russia
Illustrative photo: the Latvia–Belarus border (Getty Images)
Latvia has fully completed the construction of a fence along its border with Russia, according to the state-owned company responsible for the project, Valsts Nekustamie Ipašumi (VNI).
At the final stage, 72 km of the 99 km fence built by Igate was put into operation.
The total length of the fence along the Latvia–Russia border is about 280 km, providing a continuous physical barrier in areas where this is technically feasible.
The project cost was previously estimated at €146 million.
Latvia’s Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis stressed that completing the fence on the borders with Russia and Belarus is an important contribution to national security and to protecting the EU’s external border.
According to him, the border will continue to be equipped with modern technological surveillance systems.
At the same time, work is ongoing to develop additional infrastructure, including patrol roads, bridges, and engineering structures.
In summer, the final phase of works began on another 41 km of sections along the border with Russia, including swampy areas. The main construction works are planned to be completed by the end of 2026.
The state company Valsts Nekustamie Ipašumi (VNĪ) is also coordinating projects on the border with Belarus. Construction of the main fence there, with a total length of nearly 145 km, was completed in July 2024. Final infrastructure works on certain sections are expected to be finished by spring 2026.
It is separately noted that the technological equipment of Latvia’s entire external land border is to be completed by the end of 2026.
Bunkers on Estonia–Russia border
Estonia has begun constructing the first concrete bunkers on its south-eastern border with Russia as part of the Baltic Defence Line.
The first stage oversees the installation of 28 bunkers. Seven of them have already been delivered and are being prepared for installation near the Setomaa municipality.
The overall network is expected to include 600 fortification structures, forming part of a multi-layered defence system on NATO’s eastern flank.
In addition, over the next two years, a 40-km anti-tank ditch will be built along Estonia’s south-eastern border.
Separately, Estonia’s opposition party has initiated a draft law proposing the complete closure of the border with Russia.
