Finland to set up radio surveillance system on border with Russia

Finland's Border Guard will introduce a new radio surveillance system to track mobile phones along its border with Russia between 2026 and 2027.

The system is planned to be installed on reconnaissance aircraft and ships operating in the border and water areas, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The technology will allow authorities to locate and identify mobile phones near the border but will not link devices to specific individuals or intercept communication content. The system is designed to boost situational awareness and aid in search operations for missing persons, while ensuring the focus remains on border security, not intelligence gathering.

“We are placing the new equipment in areas we consider critical,” Finnish Border Guard information technology chief, Lieutenant Colonel Janne Kurvinen said. 

According to him, this will aid the Border Guards to be better informed about what is happening in the border region, speeding up the response to potential threats.

The system was authorised for use in 2024, with funding of €13.3 million allocated for its development, including €1.7 million for maintenance.

Finland closed its border with Russia in November 2023 due to concerns over an influx of refugees. Finnish authorities accused Russia of deliberately sending asylum seekers to the border, a claim denied by Moscow.

By Sabina Mammadli