NATO Member Estonia to Shut Russia Border After ‘Sabotage Attack’

Detailed summary

Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the attempted attack was part of Russia's “broader hybrid war against Europe.” ...

NATO member Estonia will close all of its road border crossings with Russia from December 1 after the Baltic nation accused Russia's GRU military intelligence agency of ordering an attempted sabotage attack against an Estonian defense company.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced the move on Sunday, saying authorities had “clear evidence” connecting Russia's military intelligence service to the attempted attack on Threod Systems, which produces drones and surveillance systems.

“Russia must understand that hostile actions against Estonia come with consequences,” Tsahkna said in a post on X. “Attempts to intimidate, destabilize or undermine our security will not go unanswered.”

"Closing the border crossings will reduce Russia’s ability to conduct hostile activities in Estonia and strengthen our efforts to prevent sanctions circumvention," he said.

Estonian authorities said suspects tried to break into Threod Systems' premises in Viimsi, near Tallinn, on Saturday morning with the intention of causing an explosion and setting the building on fire.

The company's security staff intervened before significant damage was caused and eight suspects were detained, according to Estonian authorities.

Estonia's Internal Security Service, known as KAPO, said its intelligence showed that Russia's GRU had commissioned the operation.

The country's decision to close its road border represents a significant response by a NATO member to what its government said is an escalating campaign of Russian sabotage and other covert operations inside Europe.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in a post on X that the attempted attack was part of Russia's “broader hybrid war against Europe,” which he said was intended to reduce Western support for Ukraine and pressure on Moscow.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Newsweek. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.