Suspicious blimps have appeared near Narva, Estonia, a key border city on NATO’s eastern edge, raising concerns about Russian intentions. Estonian officials report these incidents have become frequent, occurring almost weekly.
One blimp, first spotted in June on the Russian side of the border, bore the letter “Z,” a symbol widely associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Estonian authorities believe the blimps are deliberately made visible as part of a broader pattern of harassment.
Narva, which sits across the Narva River from Russia, has experienced a sharp rise in border incidents in recent months. Estonian border forces have reported Russian guards removing border markers, Russian aircraft performing risky stunts, and attempts to smuggle weapons parts across the border.
Point phone camera here
The growing frequency of these events has unsettled residents of Narva, where the majority of the population speaks Russian. Some fear the blimps could signal larger ambitions from Moscow.
In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin used the justification of “liberating” ethnic Russians to launch the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Estonia’s leadership has emphasized that Ukraine’s success is directly tied to the region’s security. The Estonian prime minister has warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would pose a direct threat to Estonia and its neighbors.
Earlier this year, Russia further escalated tensions by removing 20 river buoys overnight, an action Estonian officials described as a deliberate provocation. Moscow has also tightened border controls, creating delays of up to 12 hours for pedestrians attempting to cross into Russia.
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Amid the ongoing harassment, Estonia remains steadfast. NATO forces recently conducted major military exercises near the Russian border to test their readiness in a crisis. Estonian officials said the drills were meant to demonstrate the country’s preparedness and send a clear message to Moscow.
[ryan robertson]
SUSPICIOUS BLIMPS KEEP POPPING UP NEAR NARVA, ESTONIA. IT’S AN IMPORTANT BORDER CITY JUST A STONE’S THROW FROM RUSSIA. ONE OF THE BLIMPS, FIRST SPOTTED IN JUNE, WAS MARKED WITH A “Z”—THE NOW NOTORIOUS SYMBOL TIED TO RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINETHE BLIMPS ARE SPARKING CONCERNS MOSCOW IS TESTING ESTONIA’S DEFENSES OR PREPARING FOR SOMETHING MORE.
THE ESTONIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THE INCIDENTS HAPPEN ALMOST WEEKLY AND APPEAR TO BE DELIBERATE. ONE BORDER OFFICIAL DESCRIBED THE MOVE AS RUSSIA SAYING, “WE’RE WATCHING YOU.”
NARVA IS ON NATO’S EASTERN EDGE, AND IT’S A FOCAL POINT OF GROWING TENSIONS. ESTONIAN BORDER FORCES REPORT A SHARP RISE IN SECURITY INCIDENTS—LIKE RUSSIAN GUARDS REMOVING BORDER MARKERS, RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT PULLING DANGEROUS STUNTS, AND EVEN ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE WEAPONS PARTS ACROSS THE BORDER.
ESTONIANS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY UNEASY. MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN NARVA SPEAK RUSSIAN, AND SOME FEAR THAT COULD MEAN THE BLIMPS COULD SIGNAL SOMETHING BIGGER. ONE OF THE REASONS VLADIMIR PUTIN USED TO JUSTIFY THE UKRAINE INVASION WAS HE WANTED TO LIBERATE ETHNIC RUSSIANS LIVING THERE.
WHICH IS WHY ESTONIA’S PRIME MINISTER REPEATEDLY SAID UKRAINE’S SUCCESS IS KEY TO THEIR SAFETY, WARNING A RUSSIAN VICTORY WOULD PUT ESTONIA—AND THE REGION—AT SERIOUS RISK.
THE BLIMPS AND RECENT SECURITY INCIDENTS CONTINUE A PATTERN OF RUSSIAN HARASSMENT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, RUSSIAN GUARDS REPORTEDLY STOLE 20 RIVER BUOYS OVERNIGHT, AN INCIDENT ESTONIA CALLED “A DELIBERATE PROVOCATION.” RUSSIA ALSO TIGHTENED BORDER CONTROLS, LEADING TO 12-HOUR WAITS FOR PEDESTRIANS CROSSING INTO THE COUNTRY.
ESTONIA REMAINS STAUNCHLY DEFIANT TOWARDS MOSCOW. ,, NATO FORCES RECENTLY WRAPPED UP SOME MAJOR EXERCISES NEAR THE RUSSIAN BORDER, TESTING THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND QUICKLY IN A CRISIS. OFFICIALS SAY THE MESSAGE TO MOSCOW IS CLEAR: ESTONIA AND ITS ALLIES ARE READY. AND RECENT EVENTS SHOW THAT VIGILANCE MAY BE MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER.
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