Estonia tests barriers on water borders with Russia

Testing will begin next year and will focus on areas of the border that are most vulnerable to illegal crossings.

The Estonian Police Department (PPA) plans to test new types of water infrastructure on the sections of the Estonian-Russian border where there is the greatest threat of illegal crossing. ERR writes about it.

As PPA Deputy General Director Vejko Kommusaar noted, only 135 of the 338 kilometers of the Estonian-Russian border are on land.

“As part of the pilot project, we are considering the possibility of installing water barriers on our eastern border, in particular, we are analyzing the experience of other countries,” Kommusaar said.

Two options were chosen for testing. The first is a system of connected buoys fixed to the bottom of reservoirs. This system is designed so that if a boat or other vehicle tries to cross it, it will be damaged. In more difficult places, devices with blades are used.

The second option is a floating fence on pontoons, which can also be an effective means of combating illegal migration.

1 million euros were allocated for the pilot project, which will last three years. During the tests, it is planned to check which systems are effective for fast flowing rivers and how they will behave in winter conditions.

Previously, USM wrote that Estonia and Finland are developing a plan to protect the Gulf of Finland from the Russian Federation.