Estonia says three Russian Federation border guards crossed into Estonian-controlled territory on the Narva River on Wednesday, arriving by hovercraft and returning shortly afterward, prompting Tallinn to summon Russia’s chargé d’affaires and demand an explanation.

According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) detected an illegal crossing of the temporary control line at the Vasknarva breakwater shortly before 10 a.m., after surveillance cameras recorded a hovercraft approaching from the Russian side and three guards disembarking and walking along the breakwater before returning to the Russian shore. The ministry said Estonian patrols responded and that patrol deployment was increased after the incident.

In reporting by ERR, Interior Minister Igor Taro said the motive was unclear and there was no direct security threat, but police and border guard patrols had been significantly increased. Taro said Russian vessels typically request permission to transit through Estonian-controlled waters in that area when moving between the Narva River and Lake Peipus, but Estonia was not informed this time.

What happened

• The incident took place at the Vasknarva breakwater in Ida-Viru County, on the Narva River border section between Estonia and Russia, according to the Estonian Foreign Ministry.
• The Foreign Ministry said the hovercraft stopped at the breakwater, three Russian border guards disembarked, crossed the temporary control line while moving along the structure, then returned to the hovercraft and travelled back toward the Russian shore. (Estonian Foreign Ministry)
• ERR reported Taro said the Russians were in Estonian territory for roughly 20 minutes, and Estonia did not detain them because they had already returned to Russian territory before that could happen.

Estonia’s response

Tallinn said it summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires to deliver a protest note and requested an explanation, and said border representatives would meet the next morning to discuss the incident.

On Thursday, ERR reported that during talks between Estonian and Russian border-guard representatives, the Russian side did not acknowledge that an illegal crossing occurred, and Estonia proposed taking the issue to a higher level.

Why it matters

The incident comes amid recurring friction along the Narva River border. In May 2024, the European Union said it expected an explanation from Russia and demanded the return of navigation buoys that Estonia said Russian border guards removed from the Estonian side of the Narva River, according to Reuters.

Separately, Newsweek described the hovercraft crossing as likely to intensify concern about Russian pressure and provocations near NATO’s eastern flank.

What we don’t know

• Estonian officials said they do not know whether the crossing was accidental or deliberate.
• Russia has not publicly provided an explanation in the cited reporting.

What’s next

Estonia says it expects an explanation through border-guard channels and diplomatic contacts, and says it has increased patrols in the area to be prepared for any additional incidents.