Estonia Summons Russian Envoy Over Sea Breach

Estonia summons Russian envoy over sea breach. Credit: Kyiv Post

Estonia’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that it summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires to formally protest a recent violation of its territorial waters by a Russian vessel.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated on X that the incident involved an unauthorised Russian border guard vessel briefly entering Estonian waters by up to half a kilometre on Saturday.

According to the Estonian army, foreign warships are only permitted to sail through Estonian waters if they are conducting a peaceful passage and provide 48 hours’ advance notification to the foreign ministry, which the Russian vessel failed to do.

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Estonia (News Central TV)
Estonia summons Russian envoy over sea breach. Credit: The Straits Times

This marks the first time this year that a Russian ship has violated Estonia’s maritime border. The foreign ministry also noted that a Russian fighter jet had breached Estonian airspace in May.

Tensions between Estonia, a member of the European Union and NATO, and Russia have heightened since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with Estonia being a staunch ally of Kyiv.

Russia has not had an ambassador in Tallinn since February 2023, following a reciprocal expulsion of envoys by both countries.

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