Estonia closes road through Russian territory over security threat
The Estonian government has decided to permanently close a road that passes through a small section of Russian land, following the sighting of Russian soldiers in the area. The road, located in the Saatse Boot, was closed last week after seven armed Russian soldiers were seen, raising security concerns.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the closure is necessary for safety, and no Estonian citizen should need to use Russian land. A new road bypassing the Russian territory is expected to be completed in 2026, with improvements being made to an existing road in the meantime.
The road had been part of a 2003 agreement with Russia, which allowed vehicle passage but restricted stopping. The construction of the new road had been delayed due to environmental concerns but will now proceed without an assessment due to national security concerns.
