Finland has started using its new three-kilometer-long pilot fence along its southeastern border with Russia, Ednews informs via Yle.

Finland does not plan to fence off its entire 1,300-km-long eastern border, but there are plans to construct around 200km of fencing at key border points.

The fencing is meant to prevent illegal border crossings and counter possible hybrid influencing efforts, such as those along Belarus's borders with Poland and the Baltic states.

The contractors who erected the fence have departed and the area is being patrolled by officers of the Southeastern Finland Border Guard.

Some minor work still needs to be done, but the fence itself, the parallel road beside it and technical aspects are now ready, according to project manager Ismo Kurki.

"Now, we're compiling experiences about use of the fence," he said.

Completion of the pilot fence has taken longer than expected. Kurki said that the contractor handed over the fence in mid-August, after which finishing work was carried out.

Construction of the fence started in April.

Work on more fencing has already started in Finnish Lapland.