The European Union (EU) has condemned Russia’s removal of buoys marking the border with Estonia on the Narva River.
Estonian officials reported that 24 out of 50 buoys placed to mark sailing routes were removed in the early hours of Thursday.
Tensions over the border have escalated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that “such actions are unacceptable.”
“This border incident is part of a broader pattern of provocative behaviour and hybrid actions by Russia, including on its maritime and land borders in the Baltic Sea region,” he said in a statement.
Moscow has objected to the placement of floating markers, which are used to prevent boats from entering foreign waters, and has disputed the planned locations of approximately half of the 250 buoys, according to Estonia’s border guard service.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that she is seeking to clarify the situation with Russia.
She said it appeared to be part of a “broader pattern” of action by Moscow to use “tools related to the border to create fear and anxiety”.
Estonia’s foreign ministry said it had summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires and said it was treating the move as a “provocative border incident”.
In a statement, Estonia demanded the “immediate return” of the buoys. This development follows a brief publication by the Russian defense ministry proposing a revision of its maritime border in the Baltic Sea earlier this week.
The proposal was deleted after causing concern among NATO members, including Estonia. Moscow has not yet commented on the matter.