Estonia Seeks Explanation as Russian Border Guards Remove Navigation Buoys from River

 A dispute has arisen between Russia and Estonia over the removal of navigation buoys from the Estonian side of the Narva River, which separates the two countries. The Baltic nation announced that 24 out of 50 recently placed buoys were taken from the river to mark sailing routes in the early hours of Thursday, according to a statement from the Estonian police and border guard.

The Estonian authority explained that natural changes to the riverbed make it necessary to retrace shipping routes annually. However, the location of the buoys between Russia and Estonia has been a point of contention since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russian Defense Ministry's Proposal

Earlier this week, the Russian defense ministry briefly proposed a revision of Russia's maritime border in the eastern Baltic Sea. This proposal created concern among NATO members, including Estonia, although it was later deleted from an official portal.

It remains unclear whether the removal of the buoys is related to any Russian Baltic Sea border plan. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated, "We will approach this case in a sober, balanced way, engaging with allies where necessary." She expressed concern, noting, "We see a broader pattern of Russian actions trying to sow anxiety."

The Narva River runs from a lake between Russia and Estonia and ends up in the Gulf of Finland, which is part of the Baltic Sea. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that Russia's Baltic Sea borders should be in accordance with international law. She clarified that the defense ministry's work to clarify the border was of a technical nature.

The situation is ongoing, and the Estonian government will continue to seek an explanation from Russia regarding the removal of the buoys and the proposal to revise the maritime border in the Baltic Sea.