Estonia closes border crossing with Russia amid suspicious military activity

According to the Estonian public broadcaster ERR, cited by European Pravda, the decision was made by the Estonian Border Guard to prevent possible provocations.

“Russian border guards regularly patrol the area, but today there was significantly more movement than usual. We decided to close the road to prevent incidents and ensure the safety of our people,” said Künter Pedoski, operational manager of the Southern Prefecture.

He added that Estonian patrols were deployed on both sides of the crossing to inform drivers and advise them to avoid the area. Despite warnings, some motorists still attempted to pass through the route, which briefly crosses Russian territory.

The closure comes amid heightened tensions on the Estonia–Russia border. On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island, remaining there for around 12 minutes before being intercepted by Finnish and Swedish aircraft.

European diplomats have since warned Moscow that NATO is prepared to respond to any further airspace violations, including through the use of force if necessary.

Just a day before the closure, on October 9, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging EU member states to shoot down any air targets illegally crossing their borders.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has warned that further Russian provocations are likely in the coming weeks.