© EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS The Russian side offered no prior notice of the vessel’s incursion.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires on Tuesday, March 3, to hand over a diplomatic note relating to the episode involving a Russian icebreaker that had trespassed into Estonian territorial waters.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry underlined the significance of adhering to established norms of conduct within territorial waters, even when icebreaking activities are ongoing.
“We wish to remind the Russian Federation via this note that explicit and definite rules are in place within Estonian territorial waters, also during the icebreaking period. Adherence to these rules is a requirement for all, to preclude any further contraventions of established procedures,” stressed Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
The Foreign Ministry brought to attention that the Russian icebreaker Murmansk entered Estonian territorial waters in the Gulf of Finland, close to Vaindloo Island, without authorization, in order to release the tanker Olympic Friendship, which had become trapped in ice. This event transpired on February 28.
It is indicated that the Russian party failed to advise either the Estonian Foreign Ministry or the Naval forces of the entry into territorial waters, disregarding the Estonian Navy’s radio communication. It is stated that the Russian icebreaker remained within Estonian boundaries for a duration of 4 minutes.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry reiterates that a foreign nation must lodge a request for transit through territorial waters 48 hours beforehand; however, given the challenging ice conditions, Estonia is prepared to shorten the notification timeframe to 6 hours before the termination of the icebreaking season.
Earlier, Estonian intelligence agencies reported Russia’s delaying tactics, aimed at preventing the conclusion of the war in Ukraine and hindering the normalization of relations with the United States.