“We Will Shoot Them”: Estonia Vows to Use Lethal Force If Russian Soldiers Cross the Border Again

Estonia would respond with lethal force if Russian “little green men” crossed into its territory, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a comment to o2.pl, according to Onet on December 24.

As reported to Onet, Tsahkna referred to an incident in October when unidentified Russian soldiers without official insignia were spotted near the Estonian border with Russia.

“Russia cannot have any influence on Europe’s security architecture, because that architecture was created first and foremost against Russia. It is the only aggressive country in our region. And when we talk about security, we are not speaking only about Ukraine, but also about the Baltic states, Poland, and all of Eastern Europe, which was part of the NATO enlargement process,” he said.

He said such sightings were not unprecedented and noted that although the episode was not deemed a major incident at the time, authorities closed a border crossing point as a precautionary measure.

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

How Putin’s War Rhetoric Has Changed As Russia Weakens: Then vs Now

Oct 27, 2025 15:00

“We are monitoring them constantly, and we receive many different reports, including from Narva, the border city. I will say this directly: if ‘little green men’ ever cross our border, we will shoot them. That is exactly what will happen—there is no debate about it. If Russia is unsure whether we would really respond this way, it can test us,” Tsahkna warned.

Earlier, Interior Minister Igor Taro said that Estonia is weighing the possibility of closing its border with Russia following an incident in which three Russian border guards crossed onto Estonian territory.

“Essentially, they no longer understand where the control line between Estonia and Russia lies, which is absolutely absurd, as this control line has existed for over 30 years. If they cannot read a map, if there's topographical incompetence, how are we supposed to help? Should we send them a map and teach them how to read it? This remains a challenge for us,” Taro said.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW