Peipus, the fifth-largest lake in Europe, is situated along the eastern border between Estonia and Russia. A control line traverses the center of the lake, marking the division between the two nations. Recent military activities in the area have drawn attention.
On Thursday, July 9, exercises took place on the Russia side of the lake. According to the Police and Border Guard Service, Estonian authorities were not notified in advance of these drills. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkuras commented that the exercise represented a novel event.
He noted that this was the first instance of such activity in Peipus Lake. Furthermore, the minister reported that Russia had closed border railway stations connecting with several neighboring countries, including Lithuania. Pevkuras stated, “This is certainly not normal.
Russia has not used weapons in Peipus Lake before. In this respect, it is something new. It is probably the Russian forces were instructed to train to shoot down maritime drones.”
While confirming the heightened military presence, the minister added that Estonia is aware of which service or unit organized the exercise, though specific details regarding the organizing body remain undisclosed.
The combination of military drills within the shared lake space and the closure of border infrastructure has raised concerns regarding regional stability along the border.
Topics: #border #russia #lake
