Russia has placed mysterious hot air balloons on NATO’s borders, sparking fears they could be part of a new spy operation or a harbinger of an attack.
A white one spaceship-like aircraft were seen on the Russian side of the border near Narva, Estonia’s third largest city, on the far edge of NATO territory in June.
Estonian authorities initially decided to ignore the suspicious blimp, but alarm bells started ringing the next day when it returned – this time marked with a ‘Z’, the symbol of Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
The incident sowed fear and confusion for Estonia, with the director general of the border force in the northern European country explaining: “We see this kind of thing almost every week.”
He also emphasized that while it is “good to see Russia using modern technology” through the mysterious zeppelins, “it was deliberately made visible to everyone to say, ‘We are watching you.’
‘They’re trying to provoke a reaction. They want to see how we react,” Belitsev said.
The zeppelin sightings are also raising concerns among locals in the Estonian capital, who fear it could be a chilling prelude to a Russian attack.
A woman told the Telegraph: ‘We think about it all the time, our Prime Minister has said that if Ukraine wins, we are safe and if not, we are in big trouble, that is a scary thought.’
The white spaceship-like plane was spotted in June on the Russian side of the border near Narva, Estonia’s third-largest city, on the very edge of NATO territory.
Estonian authorities initially decided to ignore the suspicious blimp, but alarm bells started ringing the next day when it returned – this time marked with a ‘Z’, the symbol of Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine
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Located on NATO’s eastern border, Narva has become the constant target of war tactics deployed by Russia – with the Kremlin regularly dropping these surveillance blimps and removing Estonian border infrastructure in the middle of the night.
According to Estonian border guards, tensions at the 320-kilometre-long Narva border have risen sharply in recent months.
Police have claimed there has been an increase in border security incidents, such as anti-West protests, attempted smuggling of gun parts and dangerous aircraft stunts.
The Narva Museum – which is aimed directly at Russia – is also at the center of growing tensions after carrying out a number of anti-Putin stunts and organizing exhibitions highlighting Russian propaganda and war crimes.
For the past two years, the museum has hung a banner reading “Putin is a war criminal” on the side of Narva’s castle, overlooking Ivangorod, a Russian border town just 101 meters away.
Russian officials demanded that Estonian border representatives take down the anti-Putin banner, but they refused.
Estonia, which joined NATO and the EU in 2004, defiantly remains one of Russia’s most outspoken opponents in Europe.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Estonia has spent more money on military aid to the war-torn country than any other country, and proudly supports Kiev’s ambitions to join NATO.
This support, and Estonia’s decision to impose restrictions on the Narva border crossing used by the city’s Russian speakers, has angered Putin, who indicated at the time of his invasion of Ukraine that he had his sights on Narva directed, suggesting that this would be justified. to ‘take back and secure’ the border town.
Estonia’s support for Ukraine has infuriated Putin
A Swedish artillery team fires a projectile from an Archer self-propelled howitzer during the NATO ‘Exercise Lightning Strike’ on November 20
The live-fire exercise involved soldiers from 28 allied and partner countries and took place between November 4 and 24 at locations in Finland, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Romania.
About 96 percent of the 56,000 people living in Narva speak Russian as their first language, while 34 percent of the population are Russian citizens.
Belitsev said Estonia had 18 border incidents two years ago and 96 this year
In May, Russian border guards were also accused of stealing 20 buoys from the Narva River in the dead of night, in what was seen as an attempt to restore the edges of Russian territory.
Belitsev denounced the 3am move, saying: “This is not something you do when it is right or normal.”
In addition, Russia is accused of deliberately delaying border controls ahead of an Estonian national parade, in an attempt to flood the local area with queues.
Nearly six months later, people are still queuing for over twelve hours to enter Russia.
The Estonian border police have pointed the finger at the Kremlin, but within Narva the Estonian government is somewhat blamed.
Russia has closed the Narva checkpoint to all vehicles, so the only way to get through is on foot.
Russians can use the crossing to enter Estonia, but only if they meet certain strict criteria, such as visiting close relatives.
Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shake hands ahead of bilateral talks at Knighthood House on December 17, 2024 in Tallinn, Estonia. Starmer is making official visits to NATO member states Norway and Estonia this week
The two-week international military exercise Pikne – which translates to lightning – began on December 2 in Estonia
Estonia, which joined NATO and the EU in 2004, defiantly remains one of Russia’s most outspoken opponents in Europe
‘If you want to become a member of the Russian Federation, it should not be comfortable. “Russia is an aggressor country that has carried out extensive military actions in one of its neighboring countries for more than a thousand days,” Belitsev said.
“Anyone in their right mind wouldn’t go there.”
In Estonia’s capital Tallinn, Scandinavian and Baltic leaders gathered this week for the annual summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force, a British-led rapid response force that supplements NATO forces in the region.
Erkki Tori, a senior adviser to the Estonian government, said there were no signs that Russian aggression against Ukraine and the rest of Europe would decrease next year.
“Russia will remain a threat for a long time. We see no changes in the mentality of the Russian regime,” Tori warned.
“Russia understands that we will become increasingly tired and that they can outlast us in this war of aggression. Russia considers itself at war with NATO and therefore the end justifies the means.”
It comes just weeks after Estonia launched large-scale NATO exercises near its border with Russia.
The two-week international military exercise Pikne – which translates to lightning – began on December 2 in Estonia.
“We are testing synergy and cooperation in different countries, branches of service and units,” said Colonel Janno Mark, chief of staff of the Estonian division.
The main exercises took place from December 2 to 15, mainly in the north and northeast of Estonia for the ground and air forces.