Russia Restricts Access Near Estonian Border

Russia has introduced additional restrictions in the border districts of Kingisepp and Slantsy in the Leningrad region from September 16 to 26, 2026.

The Kingisepp district administration announced the restrictions, citing Russia’s Federal Security Service Border Directorate for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

During this period, people are banned from entering or remaining along the riverbank, and the use of small boats is prohibited on a section of the Narva River between the Bolshaya Cheremukha and Kriusha rivers.

In the Slantsy district, hunting and carrying firearms within the border zone have also been banned.

In the Kingisepp district, the same restriction applies within a five-kilometre-wide strip along the state border.

A separate ban has also been introduced on people and vehicles staying or moving outside populated areas during nighttime hours within a five-kilometre-wide strip along the border in the Kingisepp and Slantsy districts.

Meanwhile, since June 28, 2026, Russia has had new border-regime rules in place for part of the Gulf of Finland.

Under the changes, the border regime applies to the waters west of an imaginary line running from Cape Bychya Golova through Cape Veprevsky and the islands of Severny Berezovy and Bolshoy Berezovy to Cape Shepelevsky.

Small vessels operating in the Gulf of Finland between the mouth of the Narva River and Cape Shepelevsky are subject to additional requirements.

Before going out on the water, boat owners or operators must notify the border unit at least two hours in advance, providing information about the vessel, route, crew and passengers, departure time, and planned return time. After returning, they must also report the actual arrival time.

The Kingisepp District shares a land border with Estonia and has access to the Baltic Sea. According to the district administration, nearly half of the length of its borders falls within the border zone.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Lithuanian government had approved a decision to strengthen its borders with Russia and Belarus. The plan includes building engineering barriers, restoring drainage channels and wetlands, and constructing anti-tank ditches and other measures to restrict the movement of military equipment.