Estonia reports armed men moving near Russian side of border
Estonia closes border due to armed militants on the Russian side (Illustrative photo: Police and Border Guard Board)
On the evening of October 11, a group of armed men was spotted moving near the Estonian-Russian border. Following the incident, Estonian authorities temporarily restricted movement through the Saatse Boot section to prevent possible incidents, according to Estonian outlet ERR.
The incident occurred near the village of Saatse, where a section of the road crosses into Russia’s Pskov region. The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board reported that patrols observed significantly increased activity on the Russian side compared to usual.
According to a spokesperson for the agency, armed groups were seen moving along the border during the day and at one point lined up across the road.
The police noted that the men's clothing differed from standard border uniforms, raising suspicions and prompting heightened security measures. To prevent potential provocations, traffic along the road was temporarily halted, and vehicles heading into the area were stopped and informed of the possible danger.
Estonia’s response and Russia’s position
The Estonian Border Guard requested clarification from the Russian side regarding the border activity. In response, Russia stated that the events were completely routine measures. Tallinn emphasized that the precautionary measures were necessary, as the situation could have posed a threat to citizens and transport.
Airspace violation
The incident with the armed groups occurred against the backdrop of other border incidents. Earlier, several Russian aircraft violated Estonian airspace, remaining there for about 12 minutes before leaving the country under NATO fighter escort.
Estonia temporarily closed traffic through the Saatse Boot section after the police and Border Guard observed increased activity by Russian units near the border.
Estonia sentenced a member of a voluntary defense organization for spying on behalf of Russia, handing down a prison term of nearly five years.
