Estonia will close its border with Russia after accusing Moscow of an alleged attack on a defense technology company, the Estonian Prime Minister announced on Sunday.
Eight people were arrested after allegedly trying to burn down the business Saturday night, authorities said. No one was hurt.
Estonian security services say the attempted attack was carried out on orders from Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.
There was no initial response from Russia.
“If Russia continues its hybrid operations in Estonia and we know that Russian intelligence services are exploiting border crossings to exert influence over people, we must be prepared to reduce the risks we face,” Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in a statement on Sunday.
“Closing the border would reduce the threat to the Estonian population and send a clear message that attacks on Estonia’s defense industry and defense capabilities are unacceptable,” he added.
The border crossings will be closed from December 1 and Michal did not specify when they would reopen.
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Estonia will close its border with Russia after accusing Moscow of an alleged attack on a defense technology company, Estonia’s prime minister said.
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Estonia will close its border with Russia after accusing Moscow of an alleged attack on a defense technology company, Estonia’s prime minister said.
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People cross the border between Estonia and Russia at the Narva border crossing on Sunday, November 15.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said this weekend’s “sabotage attempt” was “once again a reminder that Russia’s hostile activities extend far beyond Ukraine” and that “hostile actions must have consequences.” He said he expected new sanctions to be adopted against Russian individuals and entities at a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday.
Ukraine congratulated Estonia for its decision to close the border, hailing it as an example of effective action against Russian hostility and encouraging Europe to take note.
“Estonia has shown that Russian sabotage can and must have consequences beyond diplomatic condemnation,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in an article on X. “This approach deserves broader support across Europe.”
Russia has long been accused of carrying out sabotage and other hybrid attacks against Europe, but has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Last September, European officials pointed the finger at the Kremlin following a series of incidents that appeared to target NATO members.
A railway line on which several former Western diplomats were traveling was struck by a Russian drone near the border between Ukraine and Poland, while another drone – probably of Russian origin – was shot down in Lithuania. A third drone also crashed in Poland.
Elsewhere, a Danish helicopter was narrowly missed by a Russian flare, and Dutch rail traffic was significantly disrupted after metal pipes installed across the tracks triggered short circuits, caused traffic lights to turn red and forced trains to an inconvenient stop.
Although he has denied any involvement, Moscow remains the alleged culprit. European NATO allies saw the actions as an escalation of conflict against the bloc – calling the attacks measures intended to antagonize without triggering all-out war.
Gn headline
