Both vehicle checkpoints—Luhamaa (Shumilkino on the Russian side) and Koidula (Kunicina Gora)—will be closed to all traffic during the night. The daytime schedule is set for a 12-hour window.

Official Statements: Prime Minister Kristen Michal: "Since Russia's behavior on the border is at times irrational, we need to free up resources for more effective border protection. Full customs control toward Russia remains in place. Further decisions will be based on security needs and the evolving situation."

Minister of the Interior Igor Taro: Noted that the conduct of Russian border guards requires constant attention and resources from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.

Traffic and Statistics In 2025, 239,542 people crossed at Luhamaa and 213,910 at Koidula, accounting for less than half of all crossings on Estonia's eastern border. Overall border traffic has plummeted nearly fivefold since 2018, dropping from 5.3 million to approximately 1.08 million crossings annually.

Economic and Regional Context Ermo Perolainen, head of the Association of Estonian International Road Carriers, previously called the nighttime closure of the Koidula checkpoint "unreasonable," warning it could increase border wait times to as long as a month.

The closure of the Narva–Ivangorod bridge to vehicles for repairs in February 2024 had already redirected traffic toward Luhamaa and Koidula. Furthermore, since 2022, the Baltic States have restricted entry for most Russian citizens following the EU's response to the war in Ukraine.

Security Concerns Tensions were further heightened in December 2025 when Estonian authorities recorded an incident involving Russian border guards crossing the border, intensifying Tallinn’s focus on national security and border fortification. Similar measures are being taken in neighboring Latvia, where the government has extended enhanced border control regimes due to migration pressure and security threats.

Until 2024, Narva, Luhamaa, and Koidula operated 24/7. However, nighttime hours are being systematically reduced across all three main directions. The Narva checkpoint, the busiest in 2025 with 626,470 crossings, has been closed at night since May 1, 2024, and currently operates from 07:00 to 23:00.