Schools in the Estonian city of Tartu are taking new precautions against the threat of stray drones coming from the Russian border, amid ongoing regional security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine. Protective film is being applied to windows at schools and kindergartens to reduce the risk of injury from shattered glass in the event of drone-related explosions.

Tartu, located about 45 kilometers from the Russian border, has seen several instances this spring where drones carrying bombs intended for targets within Russia have entered Estonian territory. Ukrainian authorities attribute the drone deviations to Russian electronic jamming efforts. In June, as one such drone approached the area, schools in Tartu were instructed to bring children into shelters for safety.

The city, Estonia’s second-largest and a key cultural and academic hub, has responded by increasing civil defense measures. Many institutions are now designating spaces such as gyms and pools to serve as shelters. Preparations are underway during the summer holidays to equip these areas and to conduct safety drills once the school year resumes.

Karin Lukk, head of Tartu’s Kivilinna secondary school, described the initial reaction to the drone threat as unprepared and frightening. Her school had not previously established clear protocols or safe spaces for children to take shelter. “We didn’t know what to do because we were not prepared. We were actually quite scared ourselves,” Lukk said. She noted that their school plans to hold drills to teach children how to respond during drone alerts and will stock shelter areas with games and books to help keep students calm.

The use of protective film reflects lessons learned from Ukraine, where more injuries have resulted from glass shattered by explosions than from the explosions themselves. Lukk stressed the importance of such preventative measures to protect children from potential harm.

Parents have expressed support for the enhanced safety steps. Airin Treiman Kiveste, mother of an 11-year-old student at Kivilinna school, said the preparations offer peace of mind. “I feel much better when I know that the school is doing something. I think, in our world now, there must be preparations. It’s easier for children too,” she said.

Estonia, a member of NATO and the European Union, has become increasingly focused on civil defense and emergency readiness as tensions along its eastern border persist due to the conflict in Ukraine and broader geopolitical risks in the region.