Estonia to close Russian border crossings after attempted arson attack


FILE PHOTO: A bridge over the Narva River at the border crossing point with Russia in Narva, Estonia, June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Estonia ⁠will close all its border crossing points ⁠with Russia from December 1, its foreign ‌minister said on Sunday, following a suspected sabotage attack on an Estonian defence company that Tallinn blamed on Moscow.

Estonian authorities ​detained eight people overnight on ⁠suspicion of an ⁠attempted arson attack on drone maker Threod Systems that ⁠they ‌said had been ordered by Russia's GRU military intelligence service.

There was no immediate ⁠comment from Moscow on Estonia's accusations or ​its decision ‌to shut the border crossings. Moscow has ⁠regularly denied ​accusations by European authorities of involvement in sabotage operations.

"Russia must understand that hostile actions against Estonia come ⁠with consequences," Foreign Minister Margus ​Tsahkna said in a post on X.

He did not specify how long the border closure would last ⁠or if an end date had been set.

Estonia, a NATO and European Union member state and a strong supporter of Ukraine, currently has three ​open border crossings with Russia ⁠at Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula, which admit pedestrians ​and freight, according to Estonian ‌public broadcaster ERR.

(Reporting by Andrius ​Sytas in Vilnius, Writing by Terje Solsvik, Editing by Louise Heavens and Gareth Jones)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Anti-Houthi forces retreat in Yemen as Iran strikes Bahrain
Three ships struck by drones in Black Sea near Romanian shipping canal, PM says
Jordan sentences three men to death over deadly church attack
Trump's judge appointment blitz faces Republican resistance
Pope Leo crossing Peru for visits to Inca city, Amazon gateway
Nearly 1,500 migrants arrive in Canary Islands in one day
Planes collide while taxiing at Miami Airport
Cape Verde votes for president with emigration in focus
ASEAN to continue 'constructive and principled engagement' with Myanmar, bloc's chair Philippines says
Bahrain's interior ministry issues alerts of potential threats

Air Pollutant Index

Note: API is calculated based on 24hr running average of the most dominant parameter.

Highest API Readings

    Select State and Location to view the latest API reading

    Others Also Read