Finland plans to buy one million land mines amid Russian threat

Finland is moving to purchase one million anti‑personnel mines, a program that would cost about 100 million euros (roughly $112 million). The decision follows Helsinki’s withdrawal, together with several neighboring states, from a United Nations agreement that bans the use of such weapons.

Moscow has been accused of intensifying hybrid warfare against supporters of Ukraine and of preparing possible military provocations. In response, Finland left the Ottawa Convention last year, a move echoed by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, all of which cite the perceived danger from Russia.

Colonel Riku Mikkonen of the Army Command told Finland’s national news agency STT that officials are now collecting information from potential suppliers, AFP reported. Helsinki hopes to secure contracts with domestic manufacturers by the end of 2027, with production beginning in 2028. “It would be useful in many ways if Finnish companies produced the anti‑personnel mines in Finland,” Mikkonen said, noting that about half a dozen Finnish firms meet the criteria. He added that buying the mines from abroad has not been ruled out.

Finland originally joined the Ottawa Convention, a humanitarian treaty aimed at eliminating anti‑personnel landmines, in 2012. The country announced its withdrawal in April 2025, citing a deteriorating security environment, and formally ceased to be bound by the treaty in January.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has described Russia, which borders Finland for roughly 1,340 kilometres (830 miles) to the east, as a long‑term threat. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Finland has strengthened its defenses and reported that migrants have been pushed across the eastern border.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called on the European Union to halt the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens until the war ends. “As long as Russia continues its invasion, Russian citizens should not be issued tourist visas,” she said, adding that it is “not right” for Russians to enjoy Europe’s freedoms “while their country bombs the homes of Ukrainians”. Valtonen noted that Schengen states granted nearly half a million tourist visas to Russians in 2025. Finland stopped issuing such visas in 2022 and she urged the rest of the bloc to follow suit.