On February 28, a Russian icebreaker named Murmansk violated Estonia's maritime border near Vaindloo island by entering the country's territorial waters without authorization. The incident, reported by Estonia's national broadcaster ERR, raised significant concerns within the Estonian government, prompting the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Russian chargé d'affaires for consultations regarding the breach.

The Murmansk icebreaker entered Estonia's waters without any prior notification, allegedly to assist the Olympic Friendship tanker that had become trapped in ice. Notably, the icebreaker did not respond to radio calls from the Estonian Navy, which is a significant breach of protocol in maritime navigation. According to Estonian regulations, foreign vessels must notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through diplomatic channels at least 48 hours before entering Estonia's territorial waters, although this notice requirement can be shortened to six hours under difficult ice conditions, which may have been applicable in this case.

This incident underscores ongoing tensions between Estonia and Russia, particularly concerning maritime security and respect for territorial boundaries. Estonia's readiness to shorten notification time reflects the country's pragmatic approach to navigating challenging environmental conditions, but the unannounced entry of a foreign vessel raises alarms about potential breaches of sovereignty and security in the region.