Published
Video length: 4 min
Fearing being the next target since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Estonians are strengthening themselves militarily
Fearing being the next target since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Estonians are strengthening themselves militarily – (WE, THE EUROPEANS / FRANCE 2)
100 kilometers from Russia, Estonia fears the extension of the war on its territory. This small country, a member of the European Union and NATO, is preparing its population for a possible attack… Extract from the magazine “We, the Europeans”.
In the latest sign of tension between Moscow and Estonia, on February 14, 2024, Russia launched a wanted notice against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as well as other Baltic and Polish political leaders.
Estonia, with a population of 1.3 million, has some reason to worry: once a Soviet republic and now a member of the European Union and NATO, it shares a 300-kilometer common border with Russia and today sees itself as a country on the front line in the war in Ukraine. Estonia is therefore organizing itself, and preparing its population for a possible attack. It increased its military spending to 3.2% of its GDP and built 600 underground bunkers along the Russian border.
South of the town of Tapa, in Estonia’s largest military base, 4,000 young people train every year. In the hangar, a mobile artillery group prepares their equipment for a three-day forest exercise in extreme conditions. “On the last day we will have to jump into icy water. You have to learn not to freeze to death in this kind of situation,” explains Sergeant Karel Konga who, at only 19 years old, leads a crew of five soldiers.
Compulsory military service for Estonians
In the country, military service is compulsory for men and can last between eight and eleven months. Aware of the Russian danger, the young conscripts do not hesitate to go to school. Karel Kukk, an Estonian who had lived in Belgium for ten years, decided to come back and help his country: “Estonia is a small country, sparsely populated, it’s impossible to only have an army of professionals. Most soldiers are reservists who will be called up in the event of war to defend their country. If there is war, we must go and not be afraid because we are trained,” he said proudly.
Since 2022 and the Russian offensive in Ukraine, Estonia has feared being Vladimir Putin’s next target and has asked its European allies not to relax their efforts: “The idea that Russia is hostile to Europe has always been there, including over the last thirty yearssays the deputy head of the Estonian army, Major General Veiko-Vello Palm. But the fact that it could cross borders and not comply with international rules was a huge wake-up call for all of Europe but also in Estonia. What happened two years ago was something we saw coming but thought we’d avoid“, he regrets.
Excerpt from “Estonia: digital champion!”, broadcast in “We, the Europeans” on February 15, 2024.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.