"Hostile actions against Estonia will not go unanswered. Attempts to intimidate, destabilize, or undermine our security will have consequences," Tsahkna wrote on X. He said the border closure would also help prevent sanctions evasion and added that he had informed his counterparts in Finland, Latvia and Lithuania of the decision.
The attempted attack on Threod Systems took place early on Saturday, Nov. 14. The company produces unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) equipment. According to Estonia's Internal Security Service (KAPO), the suspects intended to cause an explosion and set the facility on fire. Tsahkna said investigators had gathered evidence indicating that the sabotage operation had been commissioned by the GRU.
Authorities said the facility sustained only minor damage due to the response of the security services. Eight people have been detained in connection with the case, and prosecutors have requested the arrest of five of them. In a statement posted on X on Sunday, KAPO warned people against accepting assignments from Russia, saying such activities carry serious consequences.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Estonia was "preparing for the possibility of closing the border with Russia to mitigate risks to its citizens and national security." He described the incident as part of what he called a broader Russian hybrid campaign in Europe aimed at undermining support for Ukraine.
The border closure would be consistent with Estonia's policy of gradually tightening cross-border travel restrictions with Russia. Measures introduced in recent years include a ban on the entry of Russian tourists holding Schengen visas in September 2022, the suspension of rail services in January 2023, and a ban on vehicles with Russian license plates entering the country in September 2023. Since February 2024, vehicle traffic through the Narva crossing has been suspended, while since February 2026 all three border crossings - Narva, Koidula and Luhamaa - have operated on a reduced 12-hour schedule.
Estonian security services have reported several cases of suspected Russian sabotage activity. In late September, KAPO announced the conclusion of an investigation into an August arson attack targeting facilities belonging to Milrem Robotics, another Estonian defence company that supplies equipment to Ukraine. At the time, authorities said they had identified and detained more than 20 people allegedly involved in attacks carried out on behalf of Russian intelligence services.
(pu)
Source: PAP