Russian border guards removed more than 20 buoys marking shipping lanes from the Narva River on Thursday, Estonian authorities reported.
The move comes amid rising tensions in the region, following Russia’s alleged plans to revise its maritime borders with Finland and Lithuania in the eastern Baltic Sea.
The Russian defense ministry posted a draft on Wednesday designating a portion of the waters in the eastern Gulf of Finland, as well as areas near the Russian cities of Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region, as its internal maritime waters.
However, the ministry later deleted the document without explanation, casting uncertainty about their plans. These proposed revisions had been strongly criticized by Finland, Lithuania, and Poland, and raised general concern among NATO members about a potential escalation in tensions in the region.
Now, in another contentious move, Russian border guards removed 24 floating markers from Estonian waters in the Narva River early Thursday morning, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) reported. These buoys have been in place for decades to prevent navigation errors.
Estonia installed the markers in its waters based on the State Borders Act, with their locations agreed upon by both countries’ border agencies in 2022. However, this year Russia disagreed with the positions of about half of the 250 markers. Some of the markers removed on Thursday were among those disputed by Russia.
The first 50 markers were placed in the Narva River on May 13.
Eerik Purgel, head of the PPA’s Eastern Prefecture, said Russia has not yet provided an explanation for its actions.
He said: “The Police and Border Guard Board will contact the Russian Border Guard and request clarifications on the removal of the buoys and return of the buoys. The Police and Border Guard Board expects evidence from Russia that the position of the shipping route agreed so far has changed and, if they are not presented, we will continue to install buoys.”
He explained that while the land border is permanently marked, the riverbed shifts over time, so shipping routes are rechecked each spring. He added that before the Ukraine war started, buoy placement was mutually agreed upon, but since 2023, Russia has disagreed with Estonia’s buoy locations. Estonia released the buoys for the summer according to a 2022 agreement to prevent navigational errors and ensure fishermen and hobbyists do not accidentally enter Russian waters, he further elaborated.
Estonian government seeks clarity
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said at the government’s weekly press conference that this is a border incident and the exact circumstances are being clarified.
She said: “We will approach this case in a sober, balanced way, engaging with allies where necessary. We see a broader pattern of Russian actions trying to sow anxiety.”
The country’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, urged a calm approach to the situation, pointing out that the incident aligns with Russia’s provocative behavior in recent years, which has included other border incidents, such as airspace violations.
Putin’s Baltic desires
General Micael Bydén, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, told German portal RND on Wednesday that one of Vladimir Putin’s objectives is to gain control over the Baltic Sea, adding that the Russian president is “closely monitoring” Gotland, a strategically located Swedish island in the Baltic Sea.
The Russian defense ministry posted a draft on Wednesday designating a portion of the waters in the eastern Gulf of Finland, as well as areas near the Russian cities of Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region, as its internal maritime waters.
However, the ministry later deleted the document without explanation, casting uncertainty about their plans. These proposed revisions had been strongly criticized by Finland, Lithuania, and Poland, and raised general concern among NATO members about a potential escalation in tensions in the region.
Now, in another contentious move, Russian border guards removed 24 floating markers from Estonian waters in the Narva River early Thursday morning, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) reported. These buoys have been in place for decades to prevent navigation errors.
Estonia installed the markers in its waters based on the State Borders Act, with their locations agreed upon by both countries’ border agencies in 2022. However, this year Russia disagreed with the positions of about half of the 250 markers. Some of the markers removed on Thursday were among those disputed by Russia.
The first 50 markers were placed in the Narva River on May 13.
Eerik Purgel, head of the PPA’s Eastern Prefecture, said Russia has not yet provided an explanation for its actions.
He said: “The Police and Border Guard Board will contact the Russian Border Guard and request clarifications on the removal of the buoys and return of the buoys. The Police and Border Guard Board expects evidence from Russia that the position of the shipping route agreed so far has changed and, if they are not presented, we will continue to install buoys.”
He explained that while the land border is permanently marked, the riverbed shifts over time, so shipping routes are rechecked each spring. He added that before the Ukraine war started, buoy placement was mutually agreed upon, but since 2023, Russia has disagreed with Estonia’s buoy locations. Estonia released the buoys for the summer according to a 2022 agreement to prevent navigational errors and ensure fishermen and hobbyists do not accidentally enter Russian waters, he further elaborated.
Estonian government seeks clarity
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said at the government’s weekly press conference that this is a border incident and the exact circumstances are being clarified.
She said: “We will approach this case in a sober, balanced way, engaging with allies where necessary. We see a broader pattern of Russian actions trying to sow anxiety.”
The country’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, urged a calm approach to the situation, pointing out that the incident aligns with Russia’s provocative behavior in recent years, which has included other border incidents, such as airspace violations.
Putin’s Baltic desires
General Micael Bydén, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, told German portal RND on Wednesday that one of Vladimir Putin’s objectives is to gain control over the Baltic Sea, adding that the Russian president is “closely monitoring” Gotland, a strategically located Swedish island in the Baltic Sea.
Source: ERR, TVP World
