Baltic countries boost defense: Building £51m bunkers against potential Russian aggression
The aggressive conflict in Ukraine has demonstrated to the world how challenging it can be to reclaim territory once occupied by an adversary. Susan Lillevali has underscored this, reiterating the goal of the Baltic Line of Defence, designed to alter the opponent's strategy and thus deter an attack.
"The Baltic Line of Defence is designed to safeguard every inch of NATO territory at all times," stated Lillevali during a media briefing.
Lt. Col. Kaido Tiitus, an advisor in the Ministry of Defense of Estonia, emphasized the importance of halting Russian mechanized troops. "Should they breach the border, halting their progress deep into our territory will prove incredibly challenging," he cautioned.
The Baltic countries must not delay
Lillevali also pointed out that Russia has the capacity for rapid rearmament, therefore the Baltic countries must take full advantage of the time at hand.
The Ministry of Defense of Estonia has drawn up a plan to build multiple fortifications during peacetime, some of which include bunkers, shelters, and ammunition depots. On the Estonian side of the border with Russia, there are plans to construct about 600 bunkers, each capable of accommodating 10 people with equipment. The total cost of these fortifications, along with "additional necessary installations", will amount to approximately £51 million, funded by the defence budget. Construction is set to start in January 2025.
"Lakes provide a clear view"
The proposed fortifications will cover the strip of land constituting the border between Estonia and Russia. However, no plans exist to construct physical barriers on the lakes separating these two countries. "The lakes provide an unobstructed view, which helps in surveillance. We will know exactly what's happening to them. The military is currently devising strategies to counter any attempts at border infringement via these water bodies. We are well-prepared for such circumstances," assured Lt. Col. Tiitus.
However, Lillevali underlined that, "We have no plans to deploy explosives on the Estonian border during times of peace."
