The defense ministers of the Baltic countries meeting in Riga on Friday agreed on the principles of the Baltic defense zone, now the countries’ defense forces are preparing more precise plans, the plans of which depend on exactly how many defense facilities there will be in each country . However, it is estimated that there will be up to 600 bunkers in Estonia’s border areas.
Furthermore, during the war, barbed wire and so-called dragon’s teeth, as well as anti-tank mines, are used as defensive structures.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine has shown that, in addition to equipment, ammunition and manpower, we also need physical defense facilities on the border to protect Estonia from the first meter,” said Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, stressing that the purpose of Defense Facilities is to prevent military conflict in our region.
“We do this so that the Estonian people can feel safe, but if the slightest risk arises, we would be ready to deal with various developments faster,” Pevkur added.
Kaido Tiitus, advisor to the vice-chancellor of the Ministry of Defense for defense preparedness, told ERR that the Ministry of Defense has been dealing with the issue of defense structures since the second half of 2023, and the defense ministers of the Baltic countries have already done so previously discussed the issue. According to the first estimate, the price of the defense systems amounts to 60 million euros.
The need to create a Baltic defense zone also stems from the agreement at the 2022 NATO Madrid summit that the alliance will be protected from the first meter.
According to Tiitus, the Baltic Defense Zone is an operational area for the defense of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
“In peacetime you build as much as possible, because in peacetime you can’t build everything,” Tiitus said. For example, in peacetime, mines, wire cutters and the so-called dragon’s teeth are not placed in the protection zone, but are stored in advance in nearby places.
The installation of bunkers on the land will begin in early 2025. But first it is necessary to negotiate and agree with landowners, because a large part of the protection zone is located on private land.
Titus expressed hope that some type of land use agreement will be reached with the landowners. Compensation terms are also discussed.
“Selling land, for example, in the south-east of Estonia is a big question mark, because people there don’t want to sell land, this land is important to them, whether it has some kind of traditional value or is purely agricultural. land, which keeps the people of that remote corner of the country in their hearts. So buying it is definitely not a good solution for them,” Tiitus said.
Titus stressed that the bunkers could also be used in peacetime. According to him, the aim is for the bunkers not to irritate the eyes and not to interfere with everyday life.
The bunker could contain a platoon of soldiers, that is, about 10 people in an area of 35 square meters.
Bunker drawings. Author/source: Ministry of Defense
Colonel Tarmo Kundla, commander of the operational department of the Defense General Staff, stated that the final design of the bunkers is still being worked on, but one criterion is certainly that they can be completed quickly and with little effort even by ordinary infantry with the help of pioneers. “The desire is for these bunkers to be modular so to speak, so that they can be easily transported and also built,” Kundla said.
Kundla: Defenses increase the cost of an attack and give longer warning
Colonel Tarmo Kundla stated that the defense facilities would significantly increase the cost of a possible enemy attack and would also give Estonia longer warning.
“There is no such thing as an impenetrable defense, but the price the opponent has to invest in breaking through this defense zone is still significantly higher than what he would have to pay now. Furthermore, the preparations he has to make to break through this defense line are much more visible to us than the current one. Perhaps the opponent’s preparation also serves as a warning to us,” Kundla said.
Kundla said that currently the plan is to place bunkers near the border and not throughout Estonia. According to him, the purpose of such an agreement is to stop the opponent’s attack from the beginning.
He added that there are no plans to build bunkers on the coast to protect the maritime border. “We are trying to build maritime defense in a slightly different way. For this we are procuring missiles and we have bought sea mines. And of course, in the big picture, so to speak, everything we have planned is also a part of this bigger defense “Kundla said.
According to Kundla, there are currently no plans to use anti-personnel mines in the defense zone. “We are currently planning to use anti-tank mines and directional mines against infantry. Mines and all kinds of other deterrents are a part that will accompany each of these strongholds in case of war,” Kundla said.
2024-01-19 13:01:00
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