Estonia will close nighttime traffic at the southern road border crossings for three months starting 24 February

Starting 24 February 2026, Estonia will close nighttime traffic at southern road border crossings Luhamaa and Koidula on the Estonian-Russian border for a period of three months to better allocate border protection resources in response to disruptive actions originating from Russia. The border crossings will remain open for 12 hours during the day. Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized the necessity due to irrational and ongoing Russian behavior at the border. Interior Minister Igor Taro pointed out that this measure allows police and border guards to focus efforts where most needed and is a logical step given decreased cross-border traffic. In 2025, 239,542 people crossed at Luhamaa and 213,910 at Koidula, with significant portions being EU citizens and third-country nationals, including Russians. The situation will be reassessed after three months based on security needs.