Russian President Vladimir Putin Has Dismissed Russia’s Ambassadors To Latvia and Estonia Two Months After They Were Expelled

Novaya Gazeta: Vladimir Putin dismisses Russian ambassadors to Latvia and Estonia 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Russia’s ambassadors to Latvia and Estonia, the corresponding orders have been posted on the state law website. 

Mikhail Vanin is no longer the Ambassador to Latvia, while Vladimir Lipaev was released from his post in Estonia. 

In January, Russia announced downgrading the level of diplomatic relations with Estonia. The formal reason behind this move was said to be “reduction in the size of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn”, as per the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement. The ministry stated that Estonia’s Ambassador to Russia Margus Laidre was to leave the country by 7 February 2023.  

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WNU Editor: These two Russian ambassadors were expelled by Estonia and Latvia two months ago .... Estonia and Latvia remove Russian ambassadors as tensions rise (Politico). 

The dismissal of these ambassadors is just another sign on how diplomatic relations between Russia and the Baltic nations are now all but non-existent.

Estonia Wants To Block The Gulf Of Finland To Russian Ships

Ukrainian News: Estonia wants to block Baltic Sea for Russia 

Estonia, which is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is considering the possibility of effectively blocking the passage of Russian ships through the Baltic Sea. 

Estonia's introduction of a so-called contiguous zone, which can be up to 12 nautical miles from the 12-mile territorial sea, allows the country to conduct searches in the Gulf of Finland on military ships and civilian vessels to monitor compliance with Estonian law.  

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Update #1: Estonia may block the Gulf of Finland for Russian ships (map) (The Saxon)  

Update #2: Estonia plays on Russia's nerves by closing the Gulf of Finland (Pravda.ru)  

WNU Editor: Russia has responded .... Estonia has no right to impede navigation in Gulf of Finland contiguous zone — ambassador (TASS). 

 As to what is my take. Russia will immediately challenge such a blockade. 

Russia, Estonia, And Latvia Expel Ambassadors

BBC: Russia orders Estonian ambassador to leave country 

The Estonian ambassador in Russia has been ordered to leave the country by 7 February after the Kremlin accused the country of "Russophobia".

In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said Estonia had "purposefully destroyed" relations with Moscow. 

Margus Laidre is the first ambassador Russia has expelled since invading Ukraine last year. 

Estonia responded by asking the Russian ambassador to leave by the same date. 

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WNU Editor: Saying that relations between Russia and Estonia are "destroyed" is an understatement. 

Russia, Estonia, And Latvia Expel Ambassadors 

Russia, Estonia expel ambassadors amid ‘destroyed’ relations -- AP  

NATO's Baltic States, Russia Remove Ambassadors as Diplomatic Relations Downgraded -- Reuters  

Russia, Estonia boot ambassadors in diplomatic squabble over Ukraine -- UPI  

Russia, Estonia expel ambassadors amid ‘destroyed’ relations -- Al Jazeera  

Moscow Expels Estonian Ambassador as Tallinn Pledges More Arms to Kyiv -- Moscow Times

Estonia Says Russian Helicopter Intruded Into Its Airspace. Claims Russia Is Simulating Missile Attacks

Estonia's military said in a statement that the Russian MI-8 helicopter (pictured flying over St Petersburg) entered the country's airspace in southeastern Estonia  

SKY News: Estonia says Russia has violated its airspace for first time by helicopter in highly provocative move 

The Baltic state, a member of the NATO alliance, also said ongoing Russian military exercises are simulating missile strikes against its country daily. 

Estonia has accused Russia of violating its airspace for the first time by helicopter, in a highly provocative move ahead of a major NATO summit. 

The Baltic state, a member of the NATO alliance, also said ongoing Russian military exercises are simulating missile strikes against its country daily.  

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Estonia Says Russian Helicopter Intruded Into Its Airspace  

NATO Member Estonia Says Russian Helicopter Intruded Into Its Airspace -- Warzone/The Drive 

Russia helicopter enters Estonia for 2 mins, threatens NATO territory -- Business Insider 

'Russia is simulating missile attacks on Estonia – it has NEVER been as serious as it is now' warns the Baltic State's defence minister after Kremlin helicopter violated the Nato member's airspace -- Daily Mail 

Estonia accuses Russian military helicopter of violating its airspace -- AP  

NATO Member Estonia Says It's Targeted by Russian Missile Simulations -- Bloomberg  

Estonia protests to Russia over airspace violation as Baltic tensions rise -- Reuters  

Nato member Estonia accuses Russia of violating airspace -- Evening Standard

NATO Member Estonia Says A Russian War Plane Entered Estonia's Airspace For The 6th Time This Year

NBC/Reuters: Russian plane enters NATO member Estonia's airspace for 6th time this year  

"Such a series of repeated violations is by no means acceptable," Estonia's Foreign Ministry said. 

NATO member Estonia said Thursday that a Russian air force plane violated its airspace in what the Baltic nation alleged was the sixth such incident this year by a Russian aircraft. 

The alleged intrusion took place at noon Wednesday as the Beriev A-50 plane entered Estonia's airspace near the Baltic Sea island of Vaindloo and stayed there for less than one minute, Estonia's military said in a statement. 

 It added that the Russian plane's crew had presented a flight plan but failed to maintain radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Services and had the plane's transponder switched off.  

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WNU Editor: Russia is rejecting these claims .... Russia’s top brass rejects Estonia’s claims of military plane intruding into its airspace (TASS)

Russian Spy Plane Intercepted Over Estonia

The Russian Ministry of Defense has denied the claim by the Estonian military that a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft breached Estonian airspace. © Photo: Wikipedia / Kirill Naumenko

Estonia Demands Explanation Over Russian Spy Plane -- VOA

Estonia has summoned the Russian ambassador after a Russian spy plane entered the Baltic country’s airspace without permission.

A spokeswoman for the Estonian Foreign Ministry said the Baltic country considers the violation serious and “demands an explanation” from the ambassador.

The spokeswoman said Estonia wants to know why a Russian Ilyushin-20 surveillance aircraft crossed into its airspace Tuesday afternoon.

NATO says the Russian aircraft was in Estonian airspace for about a minute.

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More News On Reports That A Russian Spy Plane Violated Estonian Airspace

NATO: Russian Aircraft Briefly Entered Estonian Airspace This Week -- WSJ
NATO, Swedish fighters scrambled to intercept Russian plane -- Reuters
NATO jets intercept Russian fighters twice in two days over Baltic -- AP
Nato, Swedish fighters scrambled to intercept Russian plane -- The Straits Times
Russian spy plane encroaches on NATO-patrolled airspace -- Washington Times
Russian Military Activity Increasing? NATO Intercepts Surveillance Aircrafts Over Baltic Sea -- IBTimes
NATO jets, including Canadian Hornets, scrambled twice in two days to intercept Russian spyplane -- The Aviationist

Update: Russia denies that it's aircraft violated Estonian airspace ....

Russian defence ministry says Russian warplane did not violate Estonia’s air space -- ITAR-TASS
Russia’s Defense Ministry Denies Claims That Russian Il-20 Breached Estonian Airspace -- RIA Novosti

Russia - Estonia Ties Fray Over 'Captured Spy'

Raid: Russian security services released pictures of Eston Kohver, who they claim is intelligence-gathering for Estonia. He could be imprisoned for twenty years if found guilty of espionage. Daily Mail

Russians Open New Front After Estonian Official Is Captured In 'Cross-Border Raid' -- The Guardian

Eston Kohver taken to Moscow and paraded on TV as 'spy' two days after Obama's visit to Baltic state.

The Estonian-Russia border at Luhamaa does not look like a new Checkpoint Charlie. Set among the wooded plains that mark Nato and the European Union's eastern-most territory, the crossing is more likely to be the site of long lines of idling lorries than machine-gun nests and prisoner exchanges.

But that era of post-cold war calm may have come to an end on Friday morning, when, according to several Estonian accounts, smoke grenades detonated at an Estonian customs post, and all radio and telephone signals were jammed as armed Russian men suddenly materialised and dragged away a local official.

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More News On Russian - Estonian Ties Fraying Over 'Captured Spy'

Russia and Estonia Differ Over Detention -- NYT
Estonian 'spy' found with pistol, cash and 'recording equipment' is kidnapped in his home country by Russians and now faces 20 years in Moscow jail -- Daily Mail
Moscow Court Orders Arrest of Alleged Estonian Spy -- Moscow Times
Russia says detained Estonian police officer is a spy -- The Guardian
Estonia accuses Russia of kidnapping security official -- CNN
Estonia angry at Russia 'abduction' on border -- BBC
Estonian security officer detained in Russia on suspicion of spying -- RT
Russia Steps Up Pressure on the Baltics -- Will Cathcart, Daily Beast
NATO faces 1st test, as Estonia accuses Russia of abduction -- CBC
This is bad: Russia 'abducts' Estonian officer after Obama says US will defend Estonia -- VOX