Estonia summons Russian diplomat after sea border breach
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Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the Baltic state had summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires over a sea border breach.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
- Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires to protest a Russian border guard vessel violating its maritime border on July 26.
- The Russian vessel entered Estonian waters by up to half a kilometre without prior notification, violating maritime regulations.
- Tensions are high due to previous incidents, including a May airspace violation, and Estonia's support for Ukraine since 2022.
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TALLINN – Estonia’s Foreign Ministry said on July 28 that it summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires over a Russian vessel’s breach of Estonian territorial waters.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on social media platform X that the Baltic state “summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires to issue a formal protest regarding this serious and unacceptable violation of our maritime border”.
The Estonian army said in a statement that an unauthorised Russian border guard vessel briefly entered the country’s territorial waters by up to 0.5km on July 26.
Foreign warships can sail through Estonian waters only if conducting a peaceful passage and if they notify the Foreign Ministry 48 hours in advance.
“The Russian vessel did not do so,” the army said, adding that this was the first time in 2025 that a Russian ship violated Estonia’s maritime border.
In May, a Russian fighter jet violated Estonian airspace, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Tensions have escalated between the two countries since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Estonia, a member of the European Union and Nato, has been a staunch ally of Kyiv since the war began.
Russia has not had an ambassador in Tallinn since February 2023, when Estonia ordered the Russian envoy to leave in a tit-for-tat move. AFP
