Estonia May Completely Close Its Border With Russia
- 19.12.2025, 13:58
After the incident with border guards who illegally crossed Narva.
Estonia is considering closing its border with Russia after Russian border guards illegally crossed Estonian territory along the Narva River.
According to ERR.
The government will discuss the possibility of revising the threat assessment on Friday, December 19, after Russia denied that its border guards illegally crossed Estonian territory.
On Wednesday, three Russian border guards crossed the border with Estonia on the Narva River and stayed there for about 20 minutes.
On Thursday, December 18, Estonian and Russian border guards discussed the incident for more than two hours on the spot. The Russian side claimed that there was allegedly no illegal crossing.
"They no longer understood where the control line between Estonia and Russia is, which is absolutely ridiculous, because this control line has existed for more than 30 years. If they can't read a map, if topographical ignorance reigns there, how are we supposed to help? Or should we send them a map, teach them how to read it? This remains a challenge for us," Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro said.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna added that Russia is constantly trying to shift the border in geographically difficult places. He recalled the incidents in Saatset boot in October, where armed Russians were spotted, and the theft of border buoys in May 2024 on the Narva River.
Although there is an unratified border agreement between the countries, which Russia refuses to sign, Tsahkna says it is unlikely to help in such cases.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry also sent a diplomatic note of protest to the Russian chargé d'affaires on Thursday, December 18, following the incident. The government will discuss further steps today, including possible changes to the threat assessment. In particular, closing the border with Russia has not yet been ruled out.
Taro said that actions should be proportionate and could include local, general, temporary or permanent closure of the border, depending on the circumstances.