Armed Russian soldiers appeared near the Estonian border: area sealed off – video
Estonian authorities temporarily closed the “Saatse Boot” road section on Friday after armed Russian soldiers were sighted near the country’s south-eastern border. Although the situation has since calmed, officials emphasise the need for continued vigilance along sensitive parts of the Estonian–Russian border.
Armed Russian units along the border
According to a statement from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), several uniformed and armed men were observed on Friday afternoon in the Saatse Boot area — a uniquely shaped, 115-hectare piece of Russian land protruding into south-eastern Estonia.
In video footage released by the PPA,seven armed individuals, their faces partially covered, can be seen on the road. Meelis Saarepuu, head of the South Estonian border guard, stated that the soldiers’ movements were unusually active and clearly did not belong to the regular Russian border guard units.
“Throughout the day, we observed larger-than-usual armed groups on the Russian side. At one point, they blocked the road — a behaviour that can unquestionably be interpreted as a threat,” Saarepuu told Estonia’s evening news programme, Aktuaalne kaamera.
What is the Saatse Boot?
The Saatse Boot is a peculiar geographic feature on the Estonian–Russian border. Estonia’s Route 178 passes twice through Russian territory between the villages of Lutepää and Sesniki — first for about 30 metres, and later for roughly one kilometre.
Motorists are allowed to drive through it without a permit, but stopping is strictly forbidden, and while on that stretch of road, they are under Russian jurisdiction.
According to the PPA, the temporary closure aims to prevent provocations and accidents and to ensure the safety of the local population. The current detour route goes via Värska, Treski, Matsuri, and Sesniki, and is expected to remain in place until at least Tuesday, 14 October.
Russian response: routine operation
While Estonia has tightened border surveillance, the official Russian response described the activity near the border as a “routine operation.” In contrast, Estonian authorities emphasised that the soldiers’ unusual level of activity justified the temporary road closure.
Saarepuu added that this incident was not isolated: in recent months, there have been several provocations involving the border, including the removal of border markers, GPS interference, and queues forming at crossing points.
Government reassurances: no immediate danger
Interior Minister Igor Taro reported on Saturday that the Russian unit had left the area and that the situation was now “calm.” He noted that while armed patrols had previously taken place on the Russian side, this was the first time soldiers had actually stopped on the shared road.
“Our aim is to build, in the long term, a bypass that completely avoids Russian territory — to eliminate any such risky situations in the future,” Taro said.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna sought to ease tensions on Sunday, saying, “The border situation is calm and under control. Reports in the media about escalating tensions are exaggerated.”
Tension remains, but no cause for panic
Although a sense of tension persists along the border, Estonian authorities stress that there is no imminent threat of conflict or direct danger. The PPA continues to monitor the region closely and is prepared to implement further security measures if necessary.