Estonia has extended restrictions at its border with Russia
Estonia has extended the 12-hour operating hours for road border crossings with Russia for an indefinite period. Three crossings will be open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Authorities cite the security situation and the need to use border service resources more efficiently as the reasons for the decision.
The Estonian government has approved a proposal from the Ministry of the Interior to extend the restricted operating hours on the eastern border. This applies to the “Narva,” “Koidula,” and “Luhamaa” vehicle border crossings. They will continue to operate 12 hours a day—from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. However, the government has not specified a specific date for when the restrictions are set to end.
Estonian Minister of the Interior Igor Taro explained that the decision was made, in part, due to the security situation amid Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. According to him, the reduced schedule allows for better control of the situation at the border and a faster response to potential incidents. “The restrictions allow us to strengthen border security, improve the ability of government agencies to respond to border incidents, and conduct customs inspections more effectively,” Taro explained.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also noted that closing border crossing points late in the evening and at night helps to allocate personnel more effectively. This includes police, border guards, and customs officers.
There are no plans to completely close the border at this time
Despite the tightening of restrictions, Estonia does not currently intend to completely close its eastern border with Russia. Taro emphasized that such a step would require serious grounds and a corresponding threat assessment. “A potential closure would have to be based on a serious need, confirmed by an appropriate threat assessment. At this time, we do not have such a threat assessment,” the minister stated. Thus, the border crossings will remain open, but only during specific daytime hours.
The flow of people and vehicles is decreasing
At the same time, fewer and fewer people and vehicles have been crossing the land border between Estonia and Russia recently. In the first half of 2026, approximately 444,000 people crossed through Narva, Luhamaa, and Koidula. This is 13% less than during the same period last year, when about 512,000 people crossed the border.
The flow of vehicles has also decreased. In the first six months of 2025, about 43,500 vehicles passed through these border crossing points. In 2026, that number fell to 35,000—a decrease of approximately 20%. The Estonian authorities have not set an end date for the restrictions. Therefore, the border crossing points will continue to operate from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ERR reports this.
