Russia Removes Navigation Buoys on River Bordering Estonia

Russian border guards furtively removed navigation buoys from the Estonian side of the Narva River separating the two countries, Estonian authorities said on May 23.

About 24 out of 50 buoys placed in the river to mark sailing routes were removed during the evening hours between May 22 and 23, according to Estonian police and border guard. Estonia requested an explanation from the Russian border guard, but none has been given. The location of the buoys was disputed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

This action by Russia, carried out in the shadow of the night, fits well within the broader pattern of Russia’s provocative behavior, including on its borders with neighbors.
—Estonia’s Foreign Ministry

Earlier this week, Russia proposed to revise its maritime borders in the Baltic Sea with Lithuania and Finland. Officials later said they retracted the proposal after seeing the concern among North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, including Estonia.

Encroaching on Europe: Reports such as these show that Russian President Vladimir Putin is becoming increasingly aggressive toward Europe and its borders, which is causing the Continent to unify. Watch as Putin continues to push westward in an effort to expand and revive imperial Russia.

Learn more: Read our Trends article “Why the Trumpet Watches Russia’s Return to Superpower Status.”