“Ukraine offers many lessons”
NATO troops rehearse winter war in Estonia
February 10, 2024, 9:34 p.m
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The Baltic NATO states in particular fear an attack by Russia. In order to be prepared against an invasion, hundreds of soldiers from the defense alliance in Estonia are currently practicing in an emergency – under winter conditions.
During a winter exercise in Estonia, NATO troops train to protect and defend the alliance’s eastern flank in cold winter conditions. Under the direction of the military of the Baltic EU and NATO country that borders Russia, around 1,100 soldiers practice operations in the snow and ice at the annual “Winter Camp” maneuver.
French and British forces from the NATO battle group stationed in Estonia are also taking part in the exercise, which runs from February 1st to 15th. Together with Estonian soldiers, they played through various scenarios with battle tanks and military vehicles on the snowy training area near the Tapa base.
“We test how our tactical equipment, armored vehicles and weapon systems perform in winter conditions. And most importantly, we practice how well our soldiers perform in such conditions in order to be superior to any enemy that may challenge us in the near future.” said the exercise leader, Estonian Colonel Andrus Merilo.
In today’s scenario, planning and execution of attack and defense operations were trained in a forest area. This also included Ukraine’s experiences in its defensive battle against Russia. “Ukraine offers us many lessons. We must not only learn from them, but also incorporate them into our real activities,” said Merilo. For the first time, trenches were dug for the exercise.
“What we can do in peacetime is that we prepare for any kind of conflict,” Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in Tapa. This is also the goal of the Baltic defense line, with which Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania want to secure their borders with Russia and Belarus with protective structures and bunkers against possible attacks.