Russian Missile Move Worries NATO Member Estonia

Baltic NATO member Estonia has expressed concern about Russia deploying missiles near the Estonian border.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said the decision "is an alarming move."

On July 17, the commander of Russia's ground forces Aleksandr Postnikov told Ekho Moskvy radio that Iskander missile systems were being put into service in the military region around the city of St. Petersburg, which lies some 140 kilometers from Estonia.

Iskander missiles have a range of 400 kilometers. The missiles deployed near St. Petersburg would therefore be able to reach not only Estonia but also Lithuania, their fellow NATO and EU member Latvia, and neutral EU member Finland.

compiled from agency reports