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estonia has taken the unusual step of temporarily closing a road vital to its citizens, which normally runs through a stretch of Russian territory.
According to the Estonian public broadcaster, the decision was taken after the Interior Minister was informed of the presence of Russian troops on the route.
The lockdown implemented on Friday was confirmed by Estonia. Police and Border Guard Board.
In a statement, the board explained that the action was taken “after border guards observed a larger than usual unit roaming the territory of the Russian Federation.”
The measure affects the Saatse Boot, a distinctive boot-shaped area of Russian land that extends into southeastern Estonia.
Generally, Estonian citizens and others are allowed to drive through the area without a permit, although stopping is strictly prohibited.
The Estonian border agency said the closure of the Saatse boot was “necessary to ensure the safety of people in Estonia and prevent possible incidents.”
Estonian media reports indicate that the Russian unit consisted of about 10 people.
While Russian border patrols are regularly seen in the surrounding area, their alleged presence right in the middle of a road used by Estonians is considered out of the ordinary.
On Saturday, Interior Minister Igor Taro was quoted as saying that Russian troops had again left the area. He said the situation is calm but the road will remain closed at least till Tuesday.
“There is no direct threat of war. This has been consistently confirmed by the Estonian Defense Forces.”
“The Tsatse boot incident has not changed the situation,” he was quoted by daily newspaper Postimees as saying, according to public broadcaster EER.
Estonia is on alert for incursions along the Russian border after three Russian warplanes entered its airspace without permission last month and remained there for 12 minutes.
A week ago the Russian drone violated polandThe most serious cross-border incident involving the airspace of nato Members since Russia’s full-scale invasion ukraine In February 2022.
Other NATO countries on the eastern side of the bloc have reported similar incursions and drone crashes on their territory.