I guard Finland’s border with Russia – Britons would benefit from army training ...Middle East

In Finland, tensions not felt since the Cold War are re-emerging.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Finland, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia, joined the Nato military alliance and began expanding its reservist forces amid fears that Vladimir Putin‘s irredentism could mean an invasion of Scandinavia next.

But on Finland‘s eastern border, Europe’s longest with Russia, its guards have become used to this dangerous new reality and the ever-present possibility of Russian incursion.

Tuomas, 27, is one of the guards who patrol the border with Russia. “When you are ready and prepared for these situations…then you don’t need to worry that much to be honest,” he told The i Paper.

For Tuomas, although Moscow’s actions are deeply concerning, Finland is prepared to respond to any possible threats.

“A lot has changed” since the invasion. “Of course it’s concerning. Europe has lived so long without these kind of wars, so of course it makes you think about life and a lot of things… But also Finland has always been very well prepared.

“This is, after all, our country, our home. So protecting it and keeping it safe, it’s our everyone’s duty. Militarily and also in every other aspect,” he said.

“Russia is our neighbour and Russia is at the moment involved in Europe, so of course it concerns us in a way. But still, I believe we have nothing to be afraid of, I would say… We still come here every day to work, we go back home to sleep, so it’s normal life.”

Finland has long grown accustomed to sharing a border with its powerful and often unpredictable neighbour to the east. During the Second World War the Soviets invaded and occupied about 10 per cent of Finland. Since the end of the Cold War, Finland has maintained a posture of vigilance and quiet preparedness, shaped by both its history and geography.

Even during periods of diplomatic calm, Finnish defence policy has emphasised resilience, readiness, and strong border control. The country allocated €6.5 billion (£5.5 billion) for defence in 2025 — an increase of €536 million (£455.6 million) from 2024, equating to roughly 2.5  per cent of GDP.

Under the constitution, all Finnish men aged over 18 must complete mandatory military — or alternatively civil — service. Women can apply for military service on a voluntary basis. Depending on the service, lasts 165, 255 or 347 days. After completing military service, they become part of the Finnish Defence Forces’ reserve.

Tuomas, who does not want his last name mentioned for security reasons, has served with the Finnish Border Guard for seven years. After finishing the mandatory military training, he began his studies at the Border and Coast Guard Academy in the city of Imatra.

“I went to do my part, my military service, and over there I was introduced to the Finnish border guards,” he said. “I always wanted to work for my country, so I applied to the school.”

For Tuomas, other European countries including Britain would benefit from its citizens undergoing military training, by increasing its preparedness were the worst to happen.

“It’s a very good thing because it doesn’t only give your country a strong defence and kind of like a spine for your defence, but it also gives you a lot of good tools for your life,” he said. “I would say that it helps you in many ways.”

Since joining Nato in 2023, Finland has made it clear it is anything but complacent about the Russian threat.

Finland shut its border with Russia in 2023 over accusations Moscow was weaponising migration by pushing migrants into Europe, and has since built over 20 miles of barbed-wire-topped fence that will eventually stretch 125 miles.

The border between Russia and Finland consists mostly of forest with a 10-metre-wide area in the middle where the trees have been cut. “There are border signs — Russia and Finland. Finland has white and blue, Russia has red and green,” said Tuomas.

“Finland is responsible for over half of the entire land border between Nato countries and Russia,” the Finnish Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, wrote last week. “The possibility of military force — or the threat thereof — being used against Finland cannot be ruled out.”

In recent months, Russia has refurbished its Soviet-era military bases over the border, and transferred thousands of troops to the border. Earlier this month satellite images showed intensified activity at four military sites: Kamenka and Petrozavodsk near southern Finland, Severomorsk-2 and Olenya in the north. And in 2024, Russia reactivated the Leningrad Military District, near southern Finland.

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The Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, has said some Russian buildup is a normal response to Helsinki joining Nato. However, a government report last year described “a heightened risk of an armed conflict,” with Moscow eyeing up the creation of a “buffer zone”.

Tuomas said: “The security situation in Europe is on people’s minds, especially in a country that shares a border with Russia, but they are not consumed by it and strive to go about their daily lives as usual.

“I feel that they are thinking pretty much the same thing as me. Like, it’s not something that you worry about all the time. Even when you are at the border there is no reason to worry all the time, because the situation has been going on for a very long time,” said.

In the summertime, border guards use trucks, and in the winter, they drive snowmobiles. Tuomas said that during the colder months, he and his fellow border guards often patrolled on skis.

“The weather is like a big game-changer here, because in winter it’s a lot of snow, this is a very snowy area, so it changes everything basically for the surveilling,” he said. “It’s a good way to patrol. You get some movement, exercise, and also you get to be in nature for a longer time.”

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I’m a Brit living in Finland - this is how we’re preparing for war with Russia

Sergeant Auvinen, 21, who has served in the Finnish military for about a year, said co-operation between countries was key.

“I think everybody understands that co-operation between countries is really important. I believe that is a good thing about Europe, and especially in the Nordic countries. We understand that very well,” Auvinen said.

Officer candidate Miska Männynsalo, 19, said people might think that training in the military would be tough, but there were also many positive things that come with the service, like finding long-term friends.

He said during his service he made many new friends and “most of them will be probably lifelong”.

“This raises you as a human being, and your mental state will get much better. You learn so much about yourself here,” Männynsalo said.

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