Russian agents cross Nato border in brazen broad daylight taunt

After disembarking, they walked along the river barrier before returning to their vessel and departing back to Russia.

Surveillance cameras captured grainy footage showing what Estonia's Foreign Ministry confirmed were the intruders.

In total, the trio remained on the riverbank for roughly 20 minutes.

Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro confirmed authorities have documented evidence of the breach.

"The illegal border crossing has been documented, and we have it on video from the surveillance camera that detected the crossing," he said.

Estonian units responded to investigate but found the intruders had already fled the scene.

"They had left Estonian territory and returned to their own. Traces were found, and the area was checked to ensure nothing was left behind," Taro explained.

Officials conducted thorough inspections to verify the Russians had not planted anything suspicious on Estonian soil.

The motives behind the incursion remain unclear, according to the minister.

Mr Taro suggested the incursion might stem from deteriorating standards among Russian border personnel.

"What we have observed in recent years is that the quality of border guard personnel on the Russian side varies greatly," he said.

"Obviously, the aggression against Ukraine affects their structures, as they have likely redirected a number of more competent people elsewhere, probably to the front lines or that region."

He even suggested FSB goons may lack a basic awareness of their surroundings or Russia's borders.

Russia failed to provide advance notification of the crossing, breaking a longstanding agreement governing vessel passage through Estonian waters to access Lake Peipus.

Estonia has since summoned the Russian charge d'affaires in Tallinn for a dressing-down.

The incident comes after Russian military aircraft breached Estonian airspace in a more flagrant violation of Nato's borders.

In September, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered the country's skies over the Gulf of Finland, where they stayed for approximately 12 minutes.

Estonia condemned that breach as "brazen" and lodged a diplomatic protest.

The incident triggered Nato consultations under Article 4 of the alliance treaty.

But Moscow denied any violation, claiming its aircraft remained in international airspace during a routine flight.

That same month, Russian drones briefly entered Polish airspace, prompting Nato fighter jets to scramble in the early hours of the morning.