Russia–Ukraine barrier
| "Project Wall" | |
|---|---|
| Fortification between Russia and Ukraine | |
Portion of the barrier under construction in October 2014 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Border barrier |
| Owner | Government of Ukraine |
| Operator | Ukrainian SBGS |
| Condition | Active |
| Site history | |
| Built | 2014–2022 (construction suspended due to ongoing Russian invasion) |
| Built by | Ukraine |
| In use | 2014–present |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Ukrainian War |
The Russia–Ukraine barrier, also known as the Ukrainian Wall or the European Wall (Ukrainian: Європейський вал, romanized: Yevropeiskyi val), and officially called "Project Wall" (Ukrainian: Проєкт «Стіна», romanized: Proiekt "Stina") in Ukraine, is a fortified border barrier built on the Ukrainian side of the Russia–Ukraine border. Early construction began following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014, as the Ukrainian government sought to prevent any further incursions by Russia into Ukrainian territory following the Russian annexation of Crimea and the Russian-backed separatist uprising in the Donbas. It was also aimed at helping Ukraine's position with obtaining visa-free travel to the European Union (see Ukraine–European Union relations). Former Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk presented this project on 3 September 2014, and it started officially in 2015. In June 2020, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service expected that the project would be finished by 2025. However, in a message to Focus in January 2022, they stated that the project had been completed at a cost of ₴2.5 billion.
On 24 February 2022, all remaining construction on the barrier was suspended due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.