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🇦🇹 Austria /Conflict & Security

Narva, the Border City Where Putin ‘Constantly Provokes’ NATO

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Ongoing story
  • Estonia’s Narva border crossing with Russia has become more militarized since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with tank obstacles, restricted pedestrian access and heightened surveillance concerns.
  • Estonian officials accuse Russian authorities of repeated provocations, including removing border buoys, flooding a recreational area and directing Victory Day celebrations toward Narva.
  • Cross-border residents still use the bridge to visit relatives and buy medicines or food, although tourism and normal traffic have sharply declined.

At Narva, a border guard advises Austria’s interior minister to switch off his phone or put it on flight mode. Russian network reception, he says with a grin, is better here than anywhere in Russia, meaning Russian services can intercept almost any information they can reach.

Provocations happen constantly here.

— Estonian border guardThe guard describes the repeated incidents reported at the Narva border.

The warning comes on the Friendship Bridge, a name that no longer fits the place. Estonia has installed concrete anti-tank obstacles in case armored vehicles ever try to cross. The bridge can now be crossed only on foot, and recently only during daylight. On one side stand the Hermann Fortress, Estonian, European Union, NATO and Ukrainian flags. On the other is Russia’s Ivangorod Fortress. Between them runs the gray Narva River.

“Provocations happen constantly here,” one border guard says. Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro points to footage of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9. The screens and huge loudspeakers face Narva, turning the Russian presentation of history into a performance for people across the river. “They want to cast doubt on our independence,” Taro says. The message, he adds, is: “We have a common fatherland.”

They want to cast doubt on our independence.

— Igor TaroEstonia’s interior minister explains how Russia’s Victory Day celebrations are presented toward Narva.

Officials also describe other incidents. Border buoys disappeared from the Narva River last year, which they attribute to Russian services. They say a Russian-controlled waterworks system flooded a recreational area in Narva. Ukrainian drones targeting Russia have also caused incidents in the region after electronic jamming diverted them from their course. Shooting them down over Russia could be misunderstood, officials say, so they would probably wait until the drones entered Estonian airspace.

We have a common fatherland.

— Igor TaroTaro summarizes the message Estonian officials see in the Russian celebrations.

The tense border still serves everyday needs. Mothers push prams across the bridge, travelers pull suitcases, and many carry medicines available without a prescription in Russia or food that costs less there. Others visit relatives. Before the coronavirus pandemic, tourist buses also crossed the route between Tallinn and St. Petersburg. Since Feb. 24, 2022, officials say, nothing at the border has been the same.

The drones are currently the biggest problem.

— Estonian officialThe official refers to Ukrainian drones diverted by electronic jamming near the border.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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