Three Russian Border Guards Illegally Entered the Territory of Estonia

On the morning of Wednesday, December 17, three Russian border guards entered the territory of Estonia without authorization.

The Ministry of the Interior of Estonia reported this, according to ERR.

The intrusion into Estonian territory was recorded on video, which was later published in the media.

According to the Border Guards, three men in uniform arrived at the Vasknarva breakwater on the Narva River on a hovercraft at about 10 am.

After leaving the vessel, they started to move on foot and crossed the control line from Russia to Estonia.

After that, the men returned to the Russian side of the bridge and left the place before the arrival of Estonian authorities.

“Surveillance cameras recorded the incident, and we also conducted a preliminary check at the pier. Official contact has been established with the Russian border guard mission to obtain explanations,” Eerik Purgel, head of the Idas Prefectural Border Guard Bureau, said.

After the incident, Estonia increased the number of border patrols in the area to be ready to respond to further incidents.

On Thursday, December 18, a meeting of representatives of the border guard services is scheduled, at which Estonia expects explanations from Russia regarding the border crossing.

At the same time, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy in Estonia.

An FSB border guard boat on the Narva River. Photo credits: Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This is not the first Russian provocation in the area. In early November 2025, an FSB Border Guard boat with the flag of the Wagner PMC was also spotted on the Narva River, which separates Estonia and Russia.

Also in May 2022, it was reported that the Russian border service removed more than 20 buoys delimiting the shipping lanes on the river. The buoys had been there for decades to prevent navigational errors.