Border guards in the Leningrad region detained a French national who entered Russia illegally by boat from Estonia. The incident was reported by RIA News.
The individual was navigating the Narva River when he was intercepted by border guards near the state boundary. The motive for the crossing was not disclosed, and the person was placed in a pre-trial detention center for 30 days. A criminal case was opened under the article for Illegal Crossing of the State Border of the Russian Federation, which carries a maximum penalty of up to six years in prison. The Estonian authorities were informed of the event as well. [Source: RIA News]
Earlier reports indicated a broader pattern involving the organization of refugee movements toward the border with Russia and Finland. Fontanka reported that about 400 refugees in recent days, primarily from Arab countries, had traveled from Russia toward Finland. [Source: Fontanka]
According to the publication, the refugees were transported to the Russia-Finland border in Russian-registered vehicles and then provided with bicycles to continue their journey. The reports noted that many of these travelers were seeking information about what lay ahead at the border and were looking for ways to facilitate their stay in the region. [Source: Fontanka]
There were also accounts from Abkhazia about the infiltration of DRGs (detachment-reconnaissance groups) allegedly moving from Georgia into adjacent areas. [Source: Local reporting]