Russian border guards enter Estonian territory, foreign ministry summons Russian chargé d'affaires

Three Russian border guards in uniform have crossed into Estonia and arrived at the Vasknarva pier on a hovercraft, prompting Estonia's foreign ministry to summon Russia's chargé d'affaires.

Source: European Pravda, citing Estonian public broadcaster ERR

Details: The incident happened on 17 December 2025. Estonia's Interior Minister Igor Taro said that border guards who spotted the breach on surveillance cameras were unable to question their Russian "colleagues" because they left quickly and returned to Russian territory.

Quote from Eerik Purgel, Head of Estonia's Border Guard Bureau of the Eastern Prefecture: "The incident was recorded by surveillance cameras and we also carried out an initial inspection at the pier. Official contact was established with the border representation of the Russian Federation to obtain explanations."

More details: Purgel added that the Eastern Prefecture has increased the number of patrols to be ready to respond to further incidents.

A meeting of border service representatives is scheduled for Thursday 18 December, where Estonia expects Russia to provide an explanation for the border crossing.

Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires.

Background:

• On 2 November 2025, Estonia's foreign ministry said that a Russian border patrol boat flying the flag of Russia's Wagner Private Military Company had been spotted on the Narva river
• Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the sight confirmed that Russia's "iron" system is cracking under the impact of its war of aggression and ongoing pressure from the West.

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