In the Narva and Ivangorod area, border traffic between Russia and Estonia was temporarily halted. The stop occurred on Tuesday, August 16, as Estonia announced the measure, with Russian customs also pausing vehicle crossings at the border in response. Traffic authorities cited an ongoing update of software tools as the reason for the pause.
By 8:00 on August 16, the border crossing at Ivangorod-Narva was closed indefinitely. The Estonian side reported that trucks, cars, and pedestrians were being held while systems were being refreshed. The reservation platform for crossing into Estonia, GoSwift, showed that more than 550 vehicles were queued to enter Russia via the Narva checkpoint. After a short interruption, Russian authorities indicated that some checkpoints were operating normally again.
Demolition of the T-34 Tank Monument
Reports from Delphi indicated that the border restrictions were connected to the removal of the Soviet era tank monument T-34 and other landmarks in Narva. Local police and border guards noted that the traffic restrictions were issued in response to the relocation work around Narva’s monuments.
The border department stated that temporary limits affected travel across the Narva border corridor as well. Narva lies across a river from the Russian town of Ivangorod, making foot crossings more limited. Residents were advised to use the Narva-2 crossing for pedestrian traffic.
Earlier in the morning, a news outlet reported that dismantling of the T-34 memorial tank began in Narva. The tank had been installed to commemorate the city’s liberation from Nazi forces in 1944 and was later removed from Narva. The monument was moved to a cargo vehicle belonging to the Estonian Defense Forces and subsequently taken away. It was planned to be transferred to the Estonian War Museum in Viimsi.
On that Tuesday, the Estonian government decided to dismantle Soviet military monuments in Ida-Virumaa, including the T-34, after the Narva city council did not reach a decision on transferring the monument. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu stated that the Cabinet had unanimously concluded that Soviet monuments have no place in Estonia. Narva’s officials had previously opposed transporting the monument, arguing that the statue is a symbol of local identity for the Russian-speaking population, which makes up a large share of Narva’s residents.
Officials emphasized that the monument represents the pride of the Russian-speaking community in their role in liberating Estonia from Nazi occupation. In this context, Narva’s mayor, Katri Raik, announced that she would not run for the Estonian Parliament in the upcoming elections, following the decision to dismantle the T-34 memorial. She stressed that she would not align with either side and would focus on serving Narva. The mayor also expressed strong disappointment with the decision made by the government administration.
News outlets at the time quoted local statements and reflected the debate surrounding the removal of the monument, highlighting the tensions between national policy and local sentiment.
Border Restrictions on Russian Visitors
From August 18, Russian citizens holding an Estonian Schengen visa would be barred entry into Estonia. Diplomats, staff of diplomatic missions, international transport workers, and others with free movement rights under EU law remained exempt from these sanctions. Exemptions also applied to people needing humanitarian entry, close relatives of Estonian residents, or holders of permanent residence permits in Estonia.
Officials indicated that a future plan would extend the restriction to all Russians holding Schengen visas issued by any member country, with a cabinet review planned for that week. Analysts noted that the language of the plan suggested continued entry for Russians with visas from other Schengen states. The Schengen Free Movement Act allows short visits up to 90 days for travelers bearing visas from any of the 26 treaty states.
These developments reflect evolving border policies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the complex dynamics of cross-border movements in the region.