Estonia to Shut Border Crossings With Russia Following Attack on Drone Manufacturer

Estonia has announced it will close its border crossings with Russia, following an attack on an Estonian defence company that authorities in Tallinn attribute to Moscow.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna made the announcement on Sunday, a day after eight people were detained overnight in connection with an attempted arson attack on drone maker Threod Systems.

Estonian authorities said the attack had been ordered by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. Moscow has not yet commented on the accusation.

"Russia must understand that hostile actions against Estonia come with consequences. Attempts to intimidate, destabilise, or undermine our security will not go unanswered," Tsahkna wrote on X.

He added that "closing the border crossings will reduce Russia's ability to conduct hostile activities in Estonia and strengthen our efforts to prevent sanctions circumvention." The minister did not indicate how long the closure would remain in effect.

Latvia's Interior Minister Janis Dombrava thanked Estonia's Internal Security Service on X, noting that several "Latvian citizens and non-citizens" were among those arrested. "Since the collapse of the USSR, there have been people among us who are willing to commit serious crimes in Russia's interests. We will continue our work to ensure that such people cannot endanger the lives of those who love Latvia and want to live in safety," he wrote.

Estonia, a member of the European Union and NATO and a firm backer of Ukraine, currently operates three open road crossings with Russia, located at Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula.

Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the Estonian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, told Al Jazeera the arrests showed Estonia was "prepared to respond swiftly to such attacks." He stressed that "it is essential that Russia's state-sponsored campaign of terror does not remain merely a matter of diplomatic protests, either in Estonia or among our allies elsewhere."

"Russia is waging a shadow war to divide Europe and undermine support for Ukraine. European countries must respond with asymmetric measures of their own. Closing borders with Russia is one such measure," Mihkelson said.