Kathrine Frich
A senior US congressman has lashed out at Vladimir Putin after Russian soldiers were spotted near Estonia’s border, calling the Kremlin leader “a desperate, cornered rat.”
A senior US congressman has lashed out at Vladimir Putin after Russian soldiers were spotted near Estonia’s border, calling the Kremlin leader “a desperate, cornered rat.”
NATO should stand ready
Representative Don Bacon is a Republican from Nebraska and a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
He urged NATO to stand ready after Estonian authorities temporarily closed a road due to the unexpected presence of Russian troops.
Alarm raised by “little green men”
The alert began when Estonian border guards noticed a “larger than usual unit” of Russian soldiers near the Saatse Boot, a small wedge of Russian territory that cuts into Estonia.
Images circulating online showed armed men with covered faces, so-called “little green men,” a term used for unmarked Russian soldiers first seen in Crimea in 2014.
Estonia briefly closed the crossing to prevent any confrontation.
The first “little green men” near NATO soil
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the sighting marked the first known instance of “little green men” operating so close to NATO territory.
Analysts believe the move is part of Russia’s ongoing “Phase 0” operations, a stage meant to prepare for possible larger conflicts by testing NATO’s reactions and spreading uncertainty.
Experts warn it reflects Moscow’s broader strategy of intimidation and hybrid warfare.
Estonia stays calm despite alarm
While the sighting prompted immediate concern, Estonian officials later downplayed the danger.
Interior Minister Igor Taro confirmed that Russian troops had withdrawn from the area by Saturday.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also reassured citizens, saying Russia was “acting more assertively than before, but the situation remains under control.”
Officials confirmed only seven armed Russian soldiers were seen near the border.
A road that cuts through Russian land
The incident took place along a peculiar section of road that briefly crosses into Russian territory, a Cold War-era oddity known as the Saatse Boot.
Estonia has long considered the route a security risk. “In the long term, we intend to abandon the use of this road,” Tsahkna said.
“An alternative route is already in place, and a new one is under construction.”
The closure on October 10 was described as a precaution to avoid “potential incidents.”
“Putin is a cornered and desperate rat”
Congressman Don Bacon’s reaction underscored growing frustration in Washington over Russia’s escalating provocations.
“Estonia has every reason to be vigilant and take precautions, and NATO should act in its support,” Bacon told the Kyiv Post.
“Putin is a cornered and desperate rat,” he warned, echoing the view that Moscow’s increasing unpredictability reflects internal weakness rather than strength
NATO on high alert
While NATO has not confirmed any troop movements in response, the alliance has increased surveillance along its northeastern border.
Analysts say such small-scale Russian actions are meant to test NATO’s unity and readiness without triggering open conflict.
The alliance’s members, particularly in the Baltics, have grown increasingly vocal about the need for stronger deterrence against hybrid tactics.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
