“The purpose of the restriction has been to increase border security and the ability to respond to border incidents and to enhance customs control. These needs have not changed,” said Minister of the Interior Igor Taro.
“There is also a constant question in the air, why don't we close the border completely? The basis for such a decision must be a serious need, which we could confirm through a corresponding threat assessment. We don't have it at the moment. Our neighbours have made corresponding decisions, but they have also had completely different circumstances,” noted Taro. “So we are currently moving forward with the proposal to keep the border crossings closed during the night hours for an indefinite period of time, until a need arises to supplement or change this procedure in one way or another,” he added.
The total volume of border crossings at the Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula road border crossings has decreased significantly compared to previous years. While in the first half of 2025 a total of approximately 512,000 people crossed the land border crossings, in 2026 the total number of border crossers was approximately 444,000 (-13%). The corresponding indicators for border crossings by vehicles are approximately 43,500 vehicles in the first half of 2025 and approximately 35,000 vehicles in the first half of 2026 (-20%). The number of border crossings of persons in May and June returned to the level before the night closure, but has decreased by 19% compared to the same period in 2025, while vehicle border crossings have decreased by 14% in the same comparison.
