Russian Temporary Charge d'Affaires called to discuss border infringement in the sea by Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presenting a formal complaint and a written statement.
Estonia Condemns Unauthorized Russian Vessel Incursion
Estonia has officially protested a Russian border guard vessel that violated its maritime border in late July 2025. The incident, which occurred on the morning of July 26, involved the Russian border guard vessel, the SOCHI 500, sailing unauthorized for approximately 35 minutes inside Estonian territorial waters east of Vaindloo Island.
The SOCHI 500, a vessel of the Soviet and Russian 3rd rank border patrol ships, sailed up to half a kilometer inside Estonia's territorial sea without notifying Estonian authorities in advance, as required under Estonia's State Border Act for foreign military vessels conducting innocent passage. This marked the first such maritime border violation by a Russian vessel in 2025.
The Estonian Navy monitored and identified the vessel in real-time. In response to this violation, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the temporary charge d'affaires of Russia on July 28, 2025, to issue a formal diplomatic protest and deliver an official note condemning the breach.
Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, described the violation as a "serious and unacceptable incident" and clearly communicated this to the Russian diplomat. The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the region, including previous Russian airspace violations over Estonia in 2025 and increased Russian electronic warfare activity near the Estonian border.
The incident has further strained Estonia-Russia relations within the broader context of heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a press release about the incident on its website.
This action aligns with Estonia's broader efforts to uphold its sovereignty and respond firmly to Russian provocations near its borders. The Estonian government remains committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region and will continue to take necessary measures to protect its territorial integrity.
- The unauthorized incursion of a Russian vessel into Estonian territorial waters has sparked discussions in the realm of general news, raising concerns about war-and-conflicts and politics.
- The increasing frequency of Russian provocations, such as airspace violations and electronic warfare activity, is a key point of dispute in the politics surrounding Eastern European security, entwining it with war-and-conflicts and general news.
