Russian Border Guards Briefly Enter Estonian Territory, Prompting Diplomatic Response
Three Russian border guards crossed into Estonia near Vasknarva, leading Estonia to summon Russia's chargé d'affaires for an explanation.
On December 17, 2025, three Russian border guards briefly entered Estonian territory near the village of Vasknarva. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. when the guards arrived via hovercraft on the Narva River, disembarked onto the Vasknarva breakwater, and proceeded on foot into Estonia before returning to Russian territory.
Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro stated that the motives behind the border crossing remain unclear but emphasized that there was no immediate security threat. He noted that Estonian authorities have increased patrols in the area to monitor the situation.
In response, Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires to deliver a protest note regarding the unauthorized crossing. A meeting between Estonian and Russian border representatives was scheduled for December 18 to seek an explanation for the incident.
During the meeting, Russian officials did not acknowledge the border violation. Estonian authorities have proposed a follow-up meeting to address the matter further.
Fact-checking
Fact-check the facts of the article using external sources and databases.