Estonia will close two of its road border crossings with Russia at night starting February 24, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, citing repeated provocations by Russian border guards, Baltimore Chronicle. The Luhamaa and Koidula crossings in southeastern Estonia will remain open for 12 hours during the day but will be closed overnight for an initial period of three months.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal explained that this step allows the Baltic EU and NATO member, which shares a 294-kilometer border with Russia, to reallocate resources for enhanced border protection. “As Russia’s behavior at the border is at times irrational, we need to free up resources to guard the border,” Michal said in an official statement. The Estonian government emphasized that full customs control in the direction of Russia will continue.
Interior Minister Igor Taro highlighted that the actions of Russian border guards require constant monitoring by the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. “By reducing nighttime working hours at these crossings, we can make better use of our officers where they are most needed,” Taro stated, noting that the measure will be reviewed after three months.
The decision comes after a series of military-related incidents along the border over the past two years, including the removal of navigation buoys from the Narva River, a 12-minute airspace breach by Russian military aircraft, and multiple cases of Russian border personnel crossing into Estonian territory without authorization.
Most of the Estonia-Russia border runs through Lake Peipus, Europe’s fifth-largest and largest transboundary lake. Key road crossings include Narva in the northeast and Luhamaa and Koidula in the south. Narva has already been closed overnight since May 2024. Russian authorities have either denied or declined to explain several of these incidents.
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