#Estonian Defence Forces

[unofficial-estonia]

Ivo Jurak, former Estonian Defence Forces officer was killed in action near Bakhmut. Jurak is the first Estonian known to have fallen in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

[mariacallous]

Russia will not intimidate me, Estonia's Kallas says

MUNICH, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Sunday dismissed a warrant issued by Russia for her arrest, saying it was just an attempt to intimidate her amid speculation she could get a top European Union post.

Once ruled by Moscow but now a member of both the European Union and NATO, Estonia has been a supporter of Kyiv and Kallas has been one of Moscow's most vocal critics since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.

Russian police placed her and several other Baltic politicians on a wanted list on Feb. 13 for destroying Soviet-era monuments.

"It is meant to intimidate and make me refrain from the decisions that I would otherwise make," Kallas told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

"But it's Russia's playbook. It's nothing surprising and we are not afraid."

The Baltic politicians risk being arrested only if they cross the Russian border, otherwise declaring them wanted has no real consequences.

Kallas's high profile in pushing the EU to do more to support Ukraine has led to speculation in Brussels that she could take on a senior role after the next EU parliamentary elections in June, possibly as foreign policy chief.

She said that speculation was also contributing to Russia's aggression towards her.

"It's hard to be popular," she said ironically. "The Russians have also seen that, and that's why they issued the arrest warrant to really emphasise the biggest argument against me, that I am a provocation to Russia.

When asked whether she was interested in any future European role she said: "We are not there yet. I'm the prime minister of Estonia."

MUNITIONS AND BONDS

Estonia last year initiated talks to boost European munitions' supplies to Ukraine that led to the 27 EU members agreeing to send Kyiv 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition by March this year.

The bloc is expected to only meet half the target.

"What it revealed was that we don't have enough, we don't produce enough, and we are not fast enough," she said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged allies at the global security conference on Saturday to plug a shortage of weapons that is giving Russian forces the upper hand on the battlefield.

Czech President Petr Pavel said his country had identified hundreds of thousands of rounds that could be sourced from outside the bloc quickly, but needed funding to do it.

It is unclear how much support there would be among other EU members for such a move, which could be complicated by export licences and a reluctance among some to buy outside Europe.

"It is definitely a viable option. We all have to realise that we have to do everything to stop the aggressor there," Kallas said.

"What we learned from 1930s is that the price will be higher for everybody with every hesitation, with every delay."

Kallas has also floated the idea of special EU bonds to help fund higher defence spending, a proposal that would need to convince those traditionally sceptical of EU joint borrowing such as Germany, the Netherlands and Nordic nations.

"I know what the counter argument is of some countries that are really against this type of approach, but then I ask: What is the alternative?" she said, adding that a concrete proposal still needed to be put together.

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up January 23, 2023

Under the cut:

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said Germany is not blocking the export of Leopard 2 tanks as Berlin faces mounting pressure to supply the heavy weapons that Kyiv has been calling for. Berlin failed to take a decision on the re-export of German-made tanks to Ukraine at Friday’s international defence summit at the US military base of Ramstein in south-west Germany.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday outlined the bloc's plans to continue supporting Ukraine, saying it reached an agreement to provide an additional 500 million euros ($543.03 million) and additional military training assistance worth 45 million euros ($48.87 million), dedicated to a military training mission for Ukrainian forces.

Russian artillery shelled a residential building in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 23, killing a woman and wounding two other people, Sumy Oblast Governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said on Telegram.

Russia has summoned Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre, ordering him to leave the country by Feb. 7, followed by Estonia making the same move under "the principle of parity," the Associated Press reported, citing the countries' foreign ministries.

The power deficit in Ukraine's energy system has increased as the consumption rises, the country's state grid operator Ukrenergo reported on Jan. 23. Emergency power outages have been introduced in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and Volyn oblasts where consumption limits have been exceeded.

“The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said Germany is not blocking the export of Leopard 2 tanks as Berlin faces mounting pressure to supply the heavy weapons that Kyiv has been calling for.

Berlin failed to take a decision on the re-export of German-made tanks to Ukraine at Friday’s international defence summit at the US military base of Ramstein in south-west Germany.

Asked about the issue, Borrell told a news conference today:

It seems Germany’s not going to ban the exporting of these weapons, if some EU member states who have them, want to send them.

He also outlined details of the EU’s newly approved military aid package to Ukraine, worth €500m, plus a further €45m for a military training mission for Ukrainian forces.

That brings the EU’s total amount of military support for Ukraine to €3.6bn, he said, adding that the total figure of the bloc’s support to Ukraine – including military, financial, economic and humanitarian aid – now stands at €49bn.”-via The Guardian

~

“The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday outlined the bloc's plans to continue supporting Ukraine, saying it reached an agreement to provide an additional 500 million euros ($543.03 million) and additional military training assistance worth 45 million euros ($48.87 million), dedicated to a military training mission for Ukrainian forces.

That brings the EU's total amount of military support for Ukraine, coming via the European Union's intergovernmental fund, to 3.6 billion euros ($3.9 billion), Borrell told reporters in Brussels on Monday.

"Ukraine is resisting with courage and determination," Borrell said in a news conference. "Ukraine has to win this war and we will support in the best possible way." Borrell added that the total figure of the bloc's support to Ukraine, including military, financial, economic and humanitarian aid, now stands at 49 billion euros ($53.21 million).

"Russia continues its systematic barbaric attacks on Ukrainian cities, killing civilians and destroying civilian infrastructures," Borrell said. "We have not seen any genuine willingness from Russia regarding a fair and sustainable peace."”-via CNN

~

“Russian artillery shelled a residential building in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 23, killing a woman and wounding two other people, Sumy Oblast Governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said on Telegram.

Earlier on the same day, Russian artillery also struck the town of Vorozhba, also in Sumy Oblast, destroying another residential building, this time without casualties.

Russian troops regularly shell the settlements of Sumy Oblast located close to the Ukrainian-Russian border with self-propelled artillery, mortars, and other weapons.”-via Kyiv Independent

~

“Russia has summoned Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre, ordering him to leave the country by Feb. 7, followed by Estonia making the same move under "the principle of parity," the Associated Press reported, citing the countries' foreign ministries.

According to the AP, the diplomatic missions in Russia and Estonia will be headed by temporary charges d'affaires, namely subordinate diplomats substituting for absent ambassadors.

Russian Foreign Ministry wrote in its statement that the ambassador's expulsion was a response to Estonia's "new unfriendly step to radically reduce the size of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn." Russian officials added that "the Estonian leadership has purposefully destroyed the entire range of relations with Russia."

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics announced on Jan. 23 that his country would also downgrade diplomatic relations with Russia "in solidarity with Estonia." He added that Latvia is "demanding Russia to act accordingly."

Earlier in January, Estonia decided to cut down the number of employees at the Russian embassy in Tallinn. From Feb. 1, only eight diplomats and 15 administrative, technical, and service staff members will be able to work in the country.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said, cited by the AP, that his country had reduced its bilateral relations with Moscow "to the absolute minimum" since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine started on Feb. 24.

On Jan. 19, the Estonian government announced it would provide Ukraine with a record military aid package worth 113 million euros, increasing its total military assistance to 370 million euros which is more than 1% of Estonian GDP.

The package will include all the 155 mm howitzers Estonia has, Ukraine's General Staff reported, citing Estonian Ambassador Kaimo Kuusk.

Estonia has been one of Ukraine's biggest supporters since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The Estonian parliament condemned Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories and voted to declare Russia "a terrorist regime" on Oct. 18.”-via Kyiv Independent

~

“The power deficit in Ukraine's energy system has increased as the consumption rises, the country's state grid operator Ukrenergo reported on Jan. 23. Emergency power outages have been introduced in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and Volyn oblasts where consumption limits have been exceeded.

The electricity cut-offs may be implemented in other Ukrainian regions as well, Ukrenergo wrote on Telegram.

"Electricity consumption is higher than on Sunday due to the beginning of the working week, as well as a gradual decrease in temperature throughout Ukraine," reads the report.

According to Ukrenergo, Russia's latest mass attack on Ukraine's energy system on Jan. 14 "caused significant damage" to several power units of thermal power plants. "Electricity production at operating power plants cannot fully cover consumption," the operator added.

Another reason for the power deficit, except for Russian strikes, is that more than 10 gigawatts of the capacity are currently inaccessible to the Ukrainian energy system and are under Russian control, according to Ukrenergo.

These capacities used to be produced at the now-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant, Luhansk, Enerhodar, and Vuhlehirsk thermal power plants.

The majority of Ukraine's wind and solar power plants are also located in the Russian- occupied territories of the country's south, Ukrenergo wrote.

Russian troops have repeatedly attacked energy infrastructure across Ukraine since early October, killing dozens of people and causing electricity, water, and heating cut-offs.

Moscow has admitted that Ukraine’s energy system is one of its primary targets. According to the Geneva Convention, attacking vital public infrastructure constitutes a war crime.”-via Kyiv Independent

[silverfox66]

We the Defence Ministers of Estonia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania; and the representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Slovakia met today, 19 January, to reaffirm our continued determination and resolve to supporting Ukraine in their heroic resistance against the illegal and unprovoked Russian aggression. We condemn Russia’s attacks designed to terrorise Ukraine’s people, including intentional attacks against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure which may constitute war crimes. We reject Russia’s ongoing violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and its illegal claims to have annexed Ukrainian territory.

We recognise that equipping Ukraine to push Russia out of its territory is as important as equipping them to defend what they already have. Together we will continue supporting Ukraine to move from resisting to expelling Russian forces from Ukrainian soil. By bringing together Allies and partners, we are ensuring the surge of global military support is as strategic and coordinated as possible. The new level of required combat power is only achieved by combinations of main battle tank squadrons, beneath air and missile defence, operating alongside divisional artillery groups, and further deep precision fires enabling targeting of Russian logistics and command nodes in occupied territory.

Therefore, we commit to collectively pursuing delivery of an unprecedented set of donations including main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defence, ammunition, and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine’s defence. This substantial assistance to Ukraine comes from our own national stocks, and resources illustrating the mutual understanding of the severity of the situation and our commitment to urgently increase and accelerate support for Ukraine. Having made this “Tallinn Pledge”, we shall head to the Ukraine Defence Group meeting in Ramstein tomorrow 20 January and urge other Allies and partners to follow suit and contribute their own planned packages of support as soon as possible to ensure a Ukrainian battlefield victory in 2023.

Donations list per country

Denmark: Denmark is continuing military and civil support to Ukraine. Denmark will also continue to provide training of Ukrainian forces, including but not limited to the UK-led programme of training for Ukrainian recruits. Denmark has donated or financed military aid for close to 600 million euros. Weapons donations and military support will continue in close cooperation with allies, and in accordance with Ukrainian needs.

The Czech Republic: The Czech Republic will continue its support to Ukraine via delivery of military material, always in close cooperation with our partners and reflecting the Ukrainian needs. We are working with our defence industry to increase their production capacities in order to provide even more support, especially in terms of producing large calibre ammunition, howitzers and APCs. A key component of our contribution will be maintenance of the already delivered equipment and increased MRO capacity.

Estonia: The Estonian package consists of tens of 155mm FH-70 and 122mm D-30 howitzers, thousands of rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, support vehicles for artillery units, hundreds of Carl-Gustaf M2 anti-tank grenade launchers with ammunition with the total replacement values of approx. 113 million euros. In addition, Estonia will continue to provide both basic and specialist training to hundreds of Ukrainian Armed Forces members in 2023.

Latvia: Latvia is preparing new donations with additional tens of man-portable air-defence systems (Stinger) and additional air-defence elements, two M-17 helicopters, tens of machine guns with ammunition, several tens of UAVs and spare parts for M109 howitzers. Latvia is also hugely investing in the training of Ukrainian soldiers. In 2023 Latvia is planning to train around 2000 Ukrainian soldiers in various programmes starting from basic infantry training to specialized courses.

Lithuania: the new Lithuanian lethal support package consists of dozens of L-70 anti-aircraft guns with tens of thousands of ammunition, and two Mi-8 helicopters with the total replacement value of approx. of 85 million euros. Still this year, we will invest 40 million euros for procurements in support of Ukrainian military. This will include anti-drones, optics, thermo-visual devices and drones. Also, 2 million euros will be transferred to the UK International Fund for financing the heavy weaponry acquisitions projects such as artillery systems and ammunition, direct fire platforms or armoured fighting vehicles. The total value of Lithuanian upcoming lethal support package is 125 million euros.

Poland: Poland will continue to provide military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as long as necessary. The new Polish package consists of S-60 anti-aircraft guns with 70,000 pieces of ammunition. Poland already donated 42 Infantry Fighting Vehicles along with training packages for two mechanized battalions. In addition, Poland continues delivery of 155mm KRAB howitzers and supplying UKR with various types of ammunition. Medical and engineering training is also constantly provided. On top of that, Poland is ready to donate a company of Leopard 2 tanks with 1000 pieces of ammunition. Pending this, a wider coalition of Leopard 2 tanks donors will be established.

Slovakia: In addition to the heavy equipment already donated, Slovakia will continue intensive discussions with Allies on the possibilities of unlocking further equipment for donations to Ukraine. The effort currently focuses on possibilities related to main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, air defence systems, but also increased production of howitzers, demining equipment and ammunition. Concrete details will be developed in due time based on continued exchanges with Allies and partners. Slovakia will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers and expand the training as required by Ukraine.

United Kingdom: The United Kingdom’s accelerated package consists of a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles; AS90 self-propelled 155mm guns, while preserving their commitment in Estonia; hundreds more armoured and protected vehicles; a manoeuvre support package, including minefield breaching and bridging capabilities; dozens more un-crewed aerial systems to support Ukrainian artillery; another 100,000 artillery rounds; hundreds more sophisticated missiles including GMLRS rockets, Starstreak air defence missiles, and medium range air defence missiles; 600 Brimstone anti-tank munitions; an equipment support package of spares to refurbish up to a hundred Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. The package is further augmented by continuing basic training and junior leadership training for the AFU in the UK with 9 International partners. With the aim of training around a further 20 000 AFU personnel in 2023. The UK is also coordinating the International Fund for Ukraine which has raised almost £600M with partners. The first package of support from the fund will be announced shortly.

[beardedmrbean]

Iltalehti (siirryt toiseen palveluun) readers reported unusual light phenomena early Monday morning on the eastern border, with many suggesting rockets caused the display.

IL, however, reports that Finnish officials have been tight-lipped on what exactly caused the bright lights. According to the paper, Russian state news agency Tass last week reported that the country was planning to launch a Soyuz-2 rocket from its northwestern Plesetsk launch facility.

The Finnish Defence Forces have not commented on the event, citing operative concerns, according to IL.

Rubble rouble?

Tens of thousands of Russians have arrived in Finland since Vladimir Putin's call-up. Hufvudstadsbladet (siirryt toiseen palveluun) asks how Russians are managing to get a hold of euros.

While Forex said it had stopped exchanging roubles, Tavex, an Estonian company, still buys and sells the Russian currency.

"There are no limits for how much Russian passport holders with a residence permit can exchange. Those without residence permits can exchange up to 500 euros' worth of roubles," Marek Viskman of Tavex Finland told the Swedish-language daily.

As the demand for roubles outside of Russia has plummeted, HBL asks what Tavex is planning to do with the roubles coming in.

"There's always buyers, including Finns. Our exact rouble amounts or who's buying them is a trade secret. In the end, we carry the risk," he explained.

Forced labour

Police suspect a multi-million euro Finnish berry company and Thai recruitment agency of forced labour, reports Helsingin Sanomat (siirryt toiseen palveluun).

Officials said they suspect the pickers were in a dependent position and housed in poor, mould-infested conditions.

An investigation by regional newspaper Keskipohjanmaa found that the company deducted housing, food, flights and use of a shared car from pickers' earnings, according to HS.

Up until last year foreign berry pickers were in a legal grey area, HS explains, as they were considered independent contractors. However, the "berry law," which came into force last year defines the rights of gatherers and the obligations of companies purchasing the natural products. The law has made occupational safety interventions possible.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Border Guard, Helsinki and Lapland police have cooperated in the case.

[darkmaga-retard]

https://en.topwar.ru/250340-severoatlanticheskij-aljans-prikazal-jestonii-gotovitsja-k-verojatnomu-konfliktu-nato-s-rf.html

The North Atlantic Alliance ordered Estonia to prepare for a possible conflict between NATO and Russia

Today, 11: 5240

Tallinn has been tasked with preparing for a potential military conflict between Russia and NATO. This was stated by the Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Major General Vahur Karus. According to him, this NATO order is a fundamental change for the country's military doctrine.

Today, our long-range strike capabilities are fully taken into account in NATO plans, and NATO tells us that we have to take care of certain targets on Russian territory, and that is when they can come to Estonia and take the next steps. – Karus said in an interview with state television and radio ERR.

He added that before the start of the Russian SVO in Ukraine, NATO demanded that Estonia hold out for ten days in the event of a conflict with Russia. During this time, the Alliance expected to transfer its main forces to the Baltics. However, the new "combat order" received by the Estonian authorities completely changes the country's military doctrine. Now Tallinn can expect that the Alliance units stationed on its territory will immediately enter into a conflict with the Russian Federation.

The situation today is that all the allied forces we have here are included in our war plans. We know what equipment they will bring with them and what their missions will be. – emphasized the Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Armed Forces.

It is worth noting that recently the North Atlantic Alliance has attached great importance to the deployment of its units in the Baltics. In particular, the Bundeswehr intends to deploy a full-fledged brigade in Lithuania, which will include tank large units.

In addition, the United States intends to deploy a missile defense system at the central Lithuanian training ground. armies There are about a thousand of their own servicemen in Pabradė. The infrastructure of the training ground is currently being updated specifically for these purposes.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 9.17 (after 1920)

1920 – The National Football League is organized as the American Professional Football Association in Canton, Ohio. 1924 – The Border Protection Corps is established in the Second Polish Republic for the defence of the eastern border against armed Soviet raids and local bandits. 1928 – The Okeechobee hurricane strikes southeastern Florida, killing more than 2,500 people. 1930 – The Kurdish Ararat rebellion is suppressed by the Turks. 1932 – A speech by Laureano Gómez leads to the escalation of the Leticia Incident. 1935 – The Niagara Gorge Railroad ceases operations after a rockslide. 1939 – World War II: The Soviet invasion of Poland begins. 1939 – World War II: German submarine U-29 sinks the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous. 1940 – World War II: Due to setbacks in the Battle of Britain and approaching autumn weather, Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion. 1941 – World War II: A decree of the Soviet State Committee of Defense restores compulsory military training. 1941 – World War II: Soviet forces enter Tehran during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran. 1944 – World War II: Allied airborne troops parachute into the Netherlands as the "Market" half of Operation Market Garden and British XXX Corps advances into the Netherlands as the "Garden" half of the Operation. 1944 – World War II: Soviet troops launch the Tallinn Offensive against Germany and pro-independence Estonian units. 1944 – World War II: German forces are attacked by the Allies in the Battle of San Marino. 1948 – The Lehi (also known as the Stern gang) assassinates Count Folke Bernadotte, who was appointed by the United Nations to mediate between the Arab nations and Israel. 1948 – The Nizam of Hyderabad surrenders his sovereignty over the Hyderabad State and joins the Indian Union. 1949 – The Canadian steamship SS Noronic burns in Toronto Harbour with the loss of over 118 lives. 1961 – The world's first retractable roof stadium, the Civic Arena, opens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 1961 – Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 706 crashes during takeoff from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, killing all 37 people on board. 1965 – The Battle of Chawinda is fought between Pakistan and India. 1974 – Bangladesh, Grenada and Guinea-Bissau join the United Nations. 1976 – The Space Shuttle Enterprise is unveiled by NASA. 1978 – The Camp David Accords are signed by Israel and Egypt. 1980 – After weeks of strikes at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland, the nationwide independent trade union Solidarity is established. 1980 – Former Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza Debayle is killed in Asunción, Paraguay. 1983 – Vanessa Williams becomes the first black Miss America. 1991 – Estonia, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia join the United Nations. 1991 – The first version of the Linux kernel (0.01) is released to the Internet. 1992 – An Iranian Kurdish leader and his two joiners are assassinated by political militants in Berlin. 2001 – The New York Stock Exchange reopens for trading after the September 11 attacks, the longest closure since the Great Depression. 2006 – Fourpeaked Mountain in Alaska erupts, marking the first eruption for the volcano in at least 10,000 years. 2006 – An audio tape of a private speech by Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány is leaked to the public, in which he confessed that his Hungarian Socialist Party had lied to win the 2006 election, sparking widespread protests across the country. 2011 – Occupy Wall Street movement begins in Zuccotti Park, New York City. 2013 – Grand Theft Auto V earns more than half a billion dollars on its first day of release. 2016 – Two bombs explode in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and Manhattan. Thirty-one people are injured in the Manhattan bombing. 2018 – A Russian reconnaissance aircraft carrying 15 people on board is brought down by a Syrian surface-to-air missile over the Mediterranean Sea.

[head-post]

Estonia PM Kallas under pressure amid resignation of top defence ministry official

Estonian Prime Minister meets appeals for departure as permanent secretary of defence ministry stepped down.

In the wake of lacklustre results in the European elections, with the Kaja Kallas (Renewal) Reform Party coming third, Estonia’s prime minister is again facing calls to quit the opposition over the issue of defence.

On Wednesday, Defence Ministry permanent secretary Kusti Salm resigned, citing the government’s inability to meet the country’s need to spend at least 1.6 billion euros on ammunition. Urmas Reinsalu, a current leader of the Isamaa party (Fatherland) and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the following:

The truth is that this was already discussed within the government a year ago when the military advice of the head of the Estonian Defence Forces was deliberately rejected by the government. An honest official has resigned to warn us. In response to the government’s inaction for a year, the minister lied that she read about Salm’s concerns in a newspaper, adding that Kaja Kallas should resign.

Kallas’s name was previously one of the most widely discussed in connection with the replacement of Spain’s Josep Borrell at the head of the European External Action Service (EEAS) backed by French President Emmanuel Macron. Now her popularity has plummeted due to public sector budget cuts and a widespread feeling among the public that she is more focused on a possible future position in NATO or the EU than on domestic politics.

Read more HERE

[militaryleak]

Estonian Defence Forces to Acquire 265 Military Vehicles from Scania

Scania contributes to a historic modernisation of Estonian defence forces. Deliveries of 265 vehicles will start this summer, as the company has won most of the contracts in the initial phase of a multi-hundred million Euro framework agreement. The scope of the agreement is to equip Estonia and Latvia with defence vehicles over the next seven years, due to Europe’s heightened security situation. It was signed by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) in autumn 2023 with Scania as one of the contracted heavy vehicle suppliers. ECDI is, through the agreement, able to procure heavy vehicles to a total value of EUR 437 million.

Scania contributes to a historic modernisation of Estonian defence forces. Deliveries of 265 vehicles will start this summer, as the company has won most of the contracts in the initial phase of a multi-hundred million Euro framework agreement. The scope of the agreement is to equip Estonia and Latvia with defence vehicles over the next seven years, due to Europe’s heightened security situation.…

[tsasocial]

Monforts automation reinvigorates Pincroft line

As a specialist in dyeing, printing and finishing very well known for its advanced camouflage ranges for the military, long-standing Monforts customer Pincroft is now benefiting from a complete modernisation of the Thermex continuous dyeing, condensing and thermosoling range at its Adlington dyehouse in Lancashire, UK.

First installed in 2007, the line has been upgraded to match the performance of the very latest Monforts Thermex lines that are equipped with advanced automation features providing machine operators with full control over the entire system.

The modernisation project included new control cabinets, gear motors for the fabric transport drives and PC, PLC control, touch panels and frequency inverters.

The new control cabinets were supplied fully pre-assembled from the Monforts HQ in Mönchengladbach, Germany, for direct connection to the line.

In addition, Pincroft has installed a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant at the site and is now able to produce 67% of its own electricity and recover heat for use across its textile operations.

Know-how

With over 130 years of accumulated know-how in the bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing of fabrics, Pincroft has an annual production capacity of 50 million metres.

Its meticulous pre-treatment processes, including brushing, singeing, desizing, scouring, bleaching, and mercerising, ensure that fabrics are primed for dyeing and printing, enhancing their quality and performance.

Drawing on a vast knowledge in commission textile dyeing, eco-friendly dyeing methods and advanced lines ensure precise and consistent colour shades meeting the most challenging fabric requirements and as a specialist in bespoke commission printing, services span everything from camouflage printing for global military forces to designs for home and workwear.

Mechanical and chemical finishing services can further transform textiles and enhance their inherent properties and the company is Europe’s leader in flame retardant fabric treatments, with its Proban® treated textiles ensuring ultimate protection with outstanding comfort, appearance and durability.

After joining forces with Carrington Textiles in 1998, the company has been an integral part of one of the largest suppliers of workwear, flame retardant, waterproof, defence and sustainable fabrics to some of the biggest companies and organisations in the world.

Since then, export business has significantly expanded to over 80 countries and the two companies enjoy a particularly strong position in the supply of camouflage and uniform materials to armed forces around the world, including the UK and Dutch Ministries of Defence, as well as the Finnish and Estonian armies.

Reliability

The upgraded Thermex system at Pincroft’s Adlington plant now achieves unrivalled reliability even at maximum fabric speeds, for exceptional cost-effectiveness when dyeing both large and small batches of woven fabrics.

“Our machines are built to last and known for their robustness and long service life,” says Monforts Area Sales Manager and Head of Spare Parts and Retrofits Achim Gesser. “Textile companies making major capital investments in new manufacturing lines rely on durability from the company’s production ranges, and it’s for this reason that there are currently an estimated 2,000 Monforts machines in operation worldwide – some of which were first installed over 30 years ago.

“This doesn’t mean, however, that they can’t benefit from many of the advances in performance and automation we have subsequently made. The retrofitting of specific modules with new control and drive technology – going far beyond the basic replacement of spare parts – can have a significant impact on the performance of an existing line and especially maximizing energy savings.”

[cyberbenb]

Estonian Defense Chief warns of Putin's intention to invade Baltics

The threat of a nuclear response or losses will not deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from potentially invading Baltic countries, according to the Chief of Defence of the Estonian Armed Forces, L Source : www.uawire.org/estonian-…

[swldx]

BBC 0407 17 Mar 2024

12095Khz 0358 17 MAR 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55344. English, dead carrier s/on @0358z then ID@0359z pips and "From our own correspondant" preview. @0401z World News anchored by Stewart Macintosh. Niger's military government announced that it has ended an accord with the US that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in Niger, days after holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials this week. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary 'at some point'. It is the latest in a series of comments that will not only anger his EU allies, but also Vladimir Putin. Last month Macron refused to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, which prompted a stern response from Berlin and other European partners. Estonian PM has refused to offer guarantees that she won't deploy the Baltic country's defence forces to Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion to send NATO troops to Ukraine. Her response at the NATO Nation's parliament came as Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to use nuclear weapons if provoked in the war. A Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at a Russian oil refinery that burned for hours on Saturday before it was brought under control in the latest of several damaging strikes this week on Russia's crude oil processing plants. Police have struck back against a feared Haitian gang leader who promised 'civil war', as violence in the Caribbean country showed no sign of abating. Haiti cops conducted an operation in a neighborhood of the country's capital - Port-au-Prince - controlled by the notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, that left several criminals dead, an official said today. Indian naval forces including special commandos seized a cargo vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members. Former President Trump will use local police to implement his plan for the mass deportation of undocumented migrants if he's elected, the Republican primary frontrunner said during a recent rally. A state of emergency has been declared in southern Iceland because of another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula - the fourth since December. @0406z "From our own correspondant" begins. Backyard fence antenna w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), Etón e1XM. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2258.

[mariacallous]

Here is one fact that sums up the gap between the promises that Kyiv’s European partners have made to Ukraine and the reality. In March 2023, the EU made the historic decision to deliver a million artillery shells to Ukraine within 12 months. But the number that has actually been sent is closer to 300,000. For all the rhetorical commitments to support Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion “for as long as it takes”, Europe has largely failed.

The price of this complacency is already being paid in Ukrainian blood. According to the armed forces of Ukraine, over the summer of 2023, Ukraine was firing up to 7,000 artillery shells a day and managed to degrade Russia’s logistics and artillery to the point where Russia was firing about 5,000 rounds a day. Today, the Ukrainians are struggling to fire 2,000 rounds daily, while Russian artillery is reaching about 10,000. Artillery isn’t everything, but the disparity speaks to Ukraine’s relative shortage of materiel, evident in other areas such as the number of drones it can field.

Russia is likely to be able to fire about 5m rounds at Ukraine in 2024, based on its mobilised defence production, supply from Iran and North Korea, and remaining stocks. Despite the flippant observation – often made by European officials – that Russia’s economy is the same size as that of Italy, the Kremlin is producing more shells than all of Nato. Meanwhile, Ukraine is unlikely to see any significant increase in supply for some months. This will cede the initiative to the Russians. The Kremlin believes it can win by 2026, and so Putin is in no mood to negotiate or back down.

It does not have to be like this. Earlier this month, the Estonian Ministry of Defence published a white paper detailing the levels of military equipment required to make Ukraine’s defence sustainable and for it to pursue the liberation of the occupied territories by 2025. The Estonians costed the requirements, showing they were well within the bounds of possibility. The issue is not money, but competence in delivery. If the steps to implement these measures are not taken, Ukraine will lose.

Ensuring Russia’s defeat in Ukraine is feasible, but it requires some important steps. First, Ukraine will need a steady supply of weapons to be able to blunt Russian attacks over the first half of 2024. This will require plenty of US support, but also increasing supply from European Nato members, whose backing will be critical as the US election looms in November. Many of the munitions provided since the beginning of the war were purchased from the international market or drawn from stockpiles, and investment in European production has been slow. But as stocks run out, sustaining Ukraine’s war effort depends critically on increasing Europe’s manufacturing capacity.

Second, it is essential that Ukraine corrects the mistakes that led to its failed counteroffensive in 2023. Improving the training of its troops must be the top priority. During the second world war, British forces considered 22 weeks of infantry training the minimum before a soldier was ready to join a unit, where they would then carry out collective training as part of a battalion. Ukrainian troops are lucky to get five weeks of training, while collective training is rarely carried out above the scale of the company. European Nato must expand and extend the training support provided in order to give Ukrainian units a wider tactical repertoire, and more importantly expand the scale at which the army can command and synchronise operations.

Persistent inflation and economic shocks, like the disruption to global shipping from Houthi missile attacks in the Bab al-Mandab, mean that among European countries, making a long-term economic commitment to Ukraine will be a domestic political challenge. But that is to ignore its potential upsides. Investment in defence production, rather than relying on purchases from abroad, comes with significant levels of domestic industrial investment and with the potential for expenditure to be recovered through increased tax receipts.

There are good security reasons to invest in domestic production, too. A failure to do so now could leave European leaders needing to deter a fully mobilised Russia without stockpiles or the capacity to replenish them. Meanwhile, a simultaneous escalation in the Indo-Pacific in 2025 could cause the US to shift a range of critical military capabilities – aerial refuelling, logistics, air defences – to deter China, leaving Europe significantly exposed.

For Ukraine, the immediate future is one of several months of hard fighting without critical resources, while endeavouring to regenerate the combat power that was expended over 2023. But Europe can determine what the second half of 2024 and indeed 2025 will look like. This is a war that can be won. The recent successful strike on the Russian landing ship Novocherkassk in harbour, protected by layers of Russian defences, shows how Ukraine can make effective use of the equipment that it is supplied with. But European security must not be squandered by more complacency.

[thxnews]

Minister Murrison Thanks UK Troops

  Minister Murrison's Gratitude

In a heartfelt show of appreciation, the Minister for Defence People and Families, Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP, embarked on a visit to Tapa Camp in Estonia to personally extend gratitude to the UK Armed Forces stationed there. The Minister's mission was to thank these soldiers for their unwavering commitment to upholding European security, particularly in their crucial role in safeguarding NATO's borders.   Building Alliances: Talks with Estonia’s Defence Minister During his visit, Minister Murrison engaged in discussions with Estonia’s Defence Minister, Hanno Pevkur. The talks centered on reinforcing the UK's dedication to European security through collaborative efforts to support the NATO alliance. The meeting highlighted the significance of international partnerships in maintaining peace and security in the region.   1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers: Front and Center Tapa Camp houses the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, alongside other units from the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers. Additionally, personnel stationed at the Estonian Defence Forces HQ in Talinn contribute to the collective efforts. Since 2017, the UK has held the position of Framework Nation for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence mission in Estonia, emphasizing the country's pivotal role in the alliance.   Enhancing Troop Experience: A Commitment to Quality As part of the ongoing commitment to improving the experience of the UK Armed Forces, Minister Murrison conducted a comprehensive review of camp facilities. The assessment included the introduction of a NAAFI Welfare facility, upgraded catering options, enhanced entertainment provisions, and an expanded training offer. These improvements underscore the government's dedication to ensuring the well-being and effectiveness of the troops.   Minister Murrison's Words of Appreciation Expressing his gratitude, Minister Murrison stated, "I want to thank our Armed Forces, stationed in Estonia, who are on the frontline in reinforcing the NATO alliance. Their hard work and commitment is critical to protecting peace and reinforcing our commitment to Estonia." He acknowledged the significant sacrifices made by service personnel and their families, particularly when stationed away from home to defend the nation. The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to driving continuous improvements in the support provided, ensuring that the Armed Forces have the best possible experience.   Sources: THX News, Ministry of Defence & The Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP. Read the full article