Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the reports of a tense situation at the border with Russia exaggerated, which spread online after the closure of a road section passing through Russian territory near the village of Saatse.
"Reports that the situation at the Estonian-Russian border is becoming tense are exaggerated," said Tsahkna on social media platform X.
On Friday, Estonia closed a road connecting Estonian settlements that partially runs through Russian territory due to the presence of armed Russian soldiers in the area. Tsahkna explained that this was done to avoid "incidents."
"In southeastern Estonia, there is a road that briefly crosses Russian territory. Local residents are allowed to use it without stopping. On Friday, we noticed seven armed Russian soldiers on this road, on the Russian side. To avoid possible incidents, we temporarily halted traffic there," the minister wrote.
He noted that in the long term, Estonia plans to completely cease using this road. An alternative route bypassing Russian territory already exists, and a new one is under construction.
"The current situation is a historical anomaly. To be clear: nothing extraordinary is happening at the border. The Russians are acting somewhat more confidently and noticeably than before, but the situation remains under control," Tsahkna wrote.
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