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28 July, 2017


✔︎ Russia’s largest nuclear sub passes between Finland and Estonia
"The Dmitriy Donskoi is so large that in the relatively shallow Baltic Sea it is reportedly unable to navigate completely underwater …”

✔︎ Nasty rhetoric: “… when we face NATO we face the heirs to those of Hitler’s collaborators who survived the war.” - Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin

✔︎ Belarus invites Estonia to observe Zapad 2017 military exercise

✔︎ Vice President Pence arrives in Tallinn on Sunday for a two day visit - security nearly equal to President Obama’s 2014 visit



_____________

Friday 28. July
_____________

- Russia Ratchets Up Rhetoric in the Baltics
(CEPA)
"Stories complaining about NATO expansion or Western conspiracies to undermine the Kremlin are frequent themes in Russian political discourse. They ignore the rights of Baltic states to choose their geopolitical identity, as well as the fact that in the 1990s, Baltic countries were more determined to join NATO than the alliance was to accept them."

- The Nazi-obsession of pro-Kremlin propagandists
(Stop Fake)
"We rarely see such a swift and aggressive reaction to a single video. But the Russian communication outburst to a recent eight-minute movie on YouTube was as immediate as it was foul-mouthed. … The trigger was a NATO video about the so-called “Forest Brothers” - irregular units in the three Baltic states who fought against the Soviet occupying forces during and after World War II. NATO has produced a film commemorating these fighters who are remembered as national heroes in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania."
--
"But Russia’s representatives immediately pulled out their favourite Nazi-card:
“when we face NATO we face
the heirs to those of Hitler’s
collaborators who survived
the war”.
- Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin

- Dutch Media: "Baltics training children for war with Russia"
(Postimees)
"When we asked the Ministry of Defense’s Strategic Communication Director Rauno Veri about Tomaso Clavarino’s photo-report, he immediately recalls the Italian. "He has a special interest in children and guns," Veri says, and adds that Clavarino’s portfolio suggests he has, for example, also been to Latin America to photograph child soldiers there. "A useful idiot whose images portals like RT love to publish as it serves their goals.”
—
"The result is evident in Clavarino’s report. While he has managed to photograph children with weapons in Lithuania and children wearing uniforms in Latvia, images from Estonia depict adult Defense League members in whose case it sometimes seems the photographer has sought out people who could be mistaken for minors."

- Pro-Kremlin Media: Disinformation in Latvia
(CEPA)
"In June, pro-Kremlin media outlets in the Baltic states stepped up hostile disinformation actions against NATO. In Latvia, these outlets were particularly vicious, with the staging of the Saber Strike 2017 exercises and the arrival of Canadian troops—completing the formation of NATO’s multinational battalion."



- Does ‘Countering Russian Mischief’ Mean Being Anti-Russian?
by Urve Eslas
(CEPA)
"The term “anti-Russian,” a synonym for “Russophobic,” has a long history. It expresses the self-victimizing and enemy-creating sentiments of the Kremlin and Kremlin-linked media. But “countering Russian mischief” has very different meaning than being “anti-Russian.” The first refers to countering something that Russia does; the second, “anti-Russian,” refers to countering something that Russia is—not only as a political agent but also as a whole country with social-cultural-historical aspects."



- Eesti epeenaiskond krooniti Leipzigis maailmameistriks
(ERR)
"Eesti naiste epeekoondis (Kristina Kuusk, Julia Beljajeva, Erika Kirpu, Irina Embrich) krooniti Saksamaal Leipzigis maailmameistriks, kui finaalis alistati Hiina 45:33."

- Fencing: Estonian Women take final golds in Leipzig
(Euronews)



- Belarus invites Estonia to observe Zapad 2017 military exercise
(EER)
“The Ministry of Defence received a written invitation … The invitation does not clarify the details of the events. … The Ministry of Defence is prepared to participate in the events organized by Belarus on the basis of bilateral relations."

- 10 Things You Should Not Do in Belarus
(Transitions)
[One example: Don’t take photographs of the KGB - yes, they are still called KGB.]



- 25 Luxury Homes for Sale in Estonia
(Baltic Sotheby’s International Realty) 

- Viis kodu, mille saab kätte juba 5000 euroga
(Postimees)
[Five homes you can get in Eesti for 5,000 euros.]



- U.S. Vice President to visit Tallinn
(ERR | Baltic Course)
--
—

- One of the securest motorcades in the world
(Postimees)
"The coming Sunday and Monday will mark the visit of US Vice President Mike Pence to Estonia. The security measures to be put in place for the visit of America’s number two are nearly equal to efforts made in September of 2014 when Barack Obama visited the country.



- Ministeerium Tallinnale: koos Rail Balticuga tuleb ringraudtee
(ERR)




_____________

- The Dmitri Donskoi -
Russia’s largest nuclear submarine
sails the Baltic Sea
_____________

-  The Dmitri Donskoi passes between Finland and Estonia on way to St. Petersburg
(Yle)
"The Finnish Defence Forces confirmed that the nuclear submarine Dmitriy Donskoi passed by Finland in international waters of the Baltic on Monday. The sub is powered by nuclear reactors and has a capacity to carry some 200 nuclear missiles.”
—
"The vessel is so large that in the relatively shallow Baltic Sea it is unable to navigate completely underwater, offering a spectacle to anyone watching the water as it passes."

Foto: REUTERS SCANPIX
- Maailma suurimad laevad saabusid Peterburisse
(Postimees)
"Ühes maailma suurima tuumaallveelaeva Dmitri Donskoiga saabus eile Peterburi mereväebaasi ka maailma suurim ristleja Peeter Suur, et valmistuda 30. juulil toimuvaks mereväeparaadiks."

- Russian Navy giants arrive in St. Petersburg for navy day celebrations
(Naval Today)

- Inspired 'Hunt For Red October’
(Foxtrot Alpha - 2014)
“… the Soviet built ballistic missile nuclear submarine, code named "Typhoon" by NATO, was in many ways a perfect metaphor for the USSR's military capability during the 1980s and thus the perfect fodder for informed fiction. … Built primarily for long missions under the polar icecap. … As the inspiration for Tom Clancy's novel "Hunt For The Red October," she was featured in the blockbuster screenplay adaptation with that same title.”
—
"Today a single boat, the first of her class, the Dmitriy Donskoy, is still in service, acting partially as a missile development test boat …"







_____________

Thursday 27. July
_____________

✔︎ Unpacking the history of the Baltic "Forest Brothers”
by Edward Lucas
(CEPA - 24. July)
"From the Kremlin’s point of view, the only important fact is that the Soviet Union (our gang) beat Nazi Germany (their gang). Anyone who fought against the Soviet side in World War Two was ipso facto a Nazi. Anyone who cherishes the memory of such people now is a Nazi too."

- History Revisited: The Forest Brothers
(Medium)
"The Forest Brothers are widely remembered as national heroes in the Baltic states, but the group was portrayed in Soviet propaganda as Nazi sympathizers, criminals, and terrorists."

- 'Forest brothers’ explained
(Latvian Broadcasting)

- Baltic Forest Brothers Did in 1940s What Russians Did in 1991
(Window on Eurasia 14. July)



- Putin Soomes | Putin in Finland
(Delfi | RFERL | ERR | others)
—
—
—

- Putin and Niinistö talk defence, environment and possible US sanctions
(Yle)
"Putin said that Russia's naval parade, which is scheduled to take part off the coast near St. Petersburg over the weekend, is not sabre rattling, but recapturing a one hundred year old tradition."

- Putin: Finland’s foreign policy contributing to stability in Northern Europe
(Helsinki Times)
“We believe it’s a valued contributor to stability in Northern Europe. And we’re ready to continue our dialogue with Finland and other willing states on issues related to improving security in the Baltic Sea,” he stated in a joint press conference with President Sauli Niinistö in Savonlinna, Eastern Finland, on Thursday."

- Miks Putin ei õnnitlenud Soomet 100. aastapäeva puhul?
(Postimees)

- Putin-Niinistö meeting venues hold special place in Finnish-Russian history
(Yle)
"The Punkaharju Hotel has long been considered a jewel among the sandy ridges of eastern Finland, developed from a hunting lodge at the behest of tsar Alexander I in 1878, when Finland was still a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. … Putin and Niinistö will first meet at the hotel for bilateral talks, after which they will travel by steamboat to the 15th century Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna – another pivotal site in Russia's legacy in Finland …"

- How pragmatic Finland deals with its Russian neighbour
(BBC)
"Russian President Vladimir Putin is travelling to Finland at a symbolic time: the country is celebrating its 100th year of independence from Russia. And the visit will be rich in symbolism."

- Soomlased on juba aastakümneid venelastega sõbrustanud
(Delfi)



- Will Russia Interfere In The Finnish Presidential Election?
(Up North)
"It can be evaluated that the minimum goal for the Kremlin is to keep Finland out of NATO while the ideal goal includes operations to supress the very fundamental political integrity of the Finnish state and government. It is also likely that Moscow is trying to use Finland to promote its own goals within the European Union. … Not only fake news, but also more sophisticated disinformation and influence operations may indicate something. In Finland, various leaks from within inner political circles, have emerged during election campaigns, which seek to influence foreign policy or apply diplomatic pressure."



- Finland Has a Sports Screw Loose
(New York Times)
"More than 2,000 people ventured to the remote backwaters of central Finland recently for the 20th annual Swamp Soccer World Championships. … “We have some weird hobbies,” said Paivi Kemppainen. ..."



- Sinimägede lahingute mälestusüritusel külalised sõna ei saa
(ERR)
“Meil on sisekorraeeskirjas täpselt kirjas, et nii kommunistliku kui ka natsionaalsotsialistliku propaganda tegemine on keelatud: peab olema korrektne riietus, käitumine ja see on eelduseks, et üritusele saada.”



- The birth of a Polish president
(Politico-Europe)
"For much of his time in office, Polish President Andrzej Duda has been jokingly referred to by his critics as the house “notary” for the governing Law and Justice party (PiS). … For the first time, Andrzej Duda stood up to his party. There is no going back on that."





_____________

Wednesday 26. July
_____________

- China and Russia Hold First Joint Naval Drill in the Baltic Sea
(New York Times)
"The naval exercises this week include three Chinese ships and around 10 Russian vessels, led by a joint command center in Baltiysk, a port in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad that serves as the home base for Russia’s Baltic Fleet."

- Russia and China are Sending Their Navies to the Baltic Sea
(National Interest)
"The exercises are an indication of a closer partnership between Moscow and Beijing, but falls short of a formal military alliance …"

- Russia says its Baltic Sea war games with Chinese Navy not a threat
(Reuters)
"The Russian and Chinese ships, which set off from a Russian naval base near the Polish border, will practice shooting at naval and aerial targets, the defense ministry said. Other simulated tasks include inspecting a suspicious vessel, freeing a ship seized by pirates, and conducting a rescue and recovery operation at sea."



- Ootamatult selgus, et Tallinna linnahalli renoveerimine vajab riigiabi luba
(ERR)
"Tallinna linnavalitsus kavatseb rekonstrueerida linnahalli rahvusvahelisel tasemel kontserdi- ja konverentsikeskuseks. Rekonstrueeritud linnahallis saab hakata korraldama kuni 2500 osalejaga konverentse ja kongresse ning suures saalis vähemalt 3500 pealtvaatajaga kontserte ja etendusi."

- Renovation of Tallinn’s ‘Linnahall’ requires state aid permission
(ERR)



- Valmis DVD-komplekt laulu- ja tantsupeost "Mina jään”
(ERR)



- Eestis käivitus täiesti uuel tasemel teleteenus
(Postimees)
"Soome telekomiettevõte Elisa käivitab täna Eestis täiesti uuel tasemel teleteenuse nimega Binge, mille peamine idee on oma kanaleid vaatamiseks kaasas kanda kus iganes Eesti piires asuvas televiisoris ja nutiseadmes. … Niisiis pole Binge seotud enam inimeste füüsilise aadressiga, vaid inimese endaga."



- The EU has given Poland one month to allay its concerns over judicial reform plans
(EuroNews)
"Warsaw risks an Article 7 procedure to punish a member state for not respecting common laws and values."



- Opinion: Opaque Poland
(Deutsche Welle)
"Up until 2004, Warsaw Pact countries were clamoring to get into the EU. Poland grew and prospered. Has it gotten too confident? What do Poles want? What are the Polish government's goals? … Does the EU want another crisis?"



- EU relocations: the good, the bad, and the ugly
(Deutsche Welle)




_____________

Tuesday 25. July
_____________

✔︎Baltic Cyber-Defense ‘Tigers’ Lock out Web Criminals
(Jamestown Foundation)
"Estonia may be the most dedicated Baltic State when it comes to cyber security. After the massive cyber-hacks of 2007, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCD COE) was established in Tallinn, in May 2008. The Center aims to improve cyber defense interoperability within the NATO Network Enabled Capability environment. Moreover, it is tasked with designing the Alliance’s cyber doctrine and concept development along with their validation."
—
"Another important Estonian cyber-defense institution, the National Cyber Defense League, was created in 2010 within the Estonian Defense League—the country’s a unified, voluntary paramilitary organization. Spearheaded by informatics scientist Ülo Jaaksoo, the National Cyber Defense League focuses on protecting the Estonian state and private telecommunications infrastructure from outside-derived cyberattacks."
—
"The Baltic States are working to ensure they will not be easy targets for hackers and cyberattackers. Indeed, the fact that the Baltics escaped largely unscathed from the recent cyberattacks that overwhelmed Europe this summer suggests these countries may have valuable cyber-security lessons to teach their other NATO allies."

✔︎ What we know about the latest cyber attack on Ukraine
(Euromaidan)
"On June 27, a wave of “unprecedented” cyber attacks hit Ukraine, targeting state institutions, banks, underground network, major firms, and airports, and causing disruptions on a massive scale. From the outset, the NotPetya virus seemed to be a typical ransomware attack, encrypting important files in infected computers and requiring victims to pay in exchange for decrypting their blocked files. However, it soon appeared that the attackers merely wanted to disguise their virus as a ransomware in order to mislead the public and media and hide their real intentions." 

✔︎ The Implausibility of a “Patriotic Hacker”
(Intersection)
"Putin has recently mentioned "Patriotic hackers." These are everyday Russians who, Putin hints, may have done a bit of hacking here and there in what they believe to be the Russian interest, but are nothing to do with the Russian state. The most notable action that “Patriotic hackers” have undertaken, Putin alluded, was their possible involvement in the US elections hacking the servers of the Democratic National Congress. … "Patriotic hackers" however are unlikely to equate to the abilities of an APT (Advanced Persistent Threat). "

✔︎ U.S. Moving Backwards: International cyber security evidently not a Trump priority
(Bloomberg | Salon)
 “… in the midst of a media and political frenzy over potential interference by Russia in the US elections, the closing of the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues seems odd to say the least.”



- Riigikogu hoone esine plats saab turvapostid
(ERR)
"Riigikogu hoone esine plats Toompeal saab ümberehitustööde tulemusel senisest tugevamad piirdepostid ning autode liikumist reguleerivad maa seest kerkivad turvatõkked."



- Administrative reform to turn Pärnu into Estonia’s biggest city
(Postimees)



- Moscow Finally Focusing on Ethnic Russians of Lithuania
(Window on Eurasia)
"Vyacheslav Titov, president of the Klaipeda section of the Union of Ethnic Russians of Lithuania and a deputy in the local council, told Denis Lepsky of the Rubaltic portal Moscow bears some of the blame for the resurgence of “aggressive Russophobia” and attempts at the rewriting of the history of World War II.”
—
“For long years,” Titov continues, “Russia did not block the transformation of the Baltic region into ‘a preserve of cultural Nazism’ and ignored this process.”



- Russia Is Testing NATO in the Skies
(National Interest)
"NATO reported an increase in European Quick Reaction Alert aircraft ‘Alpha’ (Air Policing) launches in response to Russian military aircraft from 400 (of a total of 480) in 2014 to 780 (of a total of 807) in 2016. … Russia’s military activities serve a propaganda purpose." 



- Opinion: Poland Turns Away From Democracy, Thanks to the U.S.
(New York Times)




_____________

Monday 24. July
_____________

- Russian military 'harassed' US-flagged merchant ship in the Baltic Sea
(Defense News - 27. June)
"At least one Russian naval vessel and helicopters harassed the M/V Green Ridge in late May as it was bound for a port in Lithuania, an encounter the ship's master characterized as "intense and threatening," per an internal report …”
—
"U.S. Transportation Command said it is aware of the incident and acknowledged the ship was carrying equipment for Exercise Saber Strike 2017 …"



- Poland’s President Vetoes 2 Proposed Laws Limiting Courts’ Independence
(The Atlantic | New York Times | BNE)
"Poland’s president has unexpectedly vetoed a controversial measure that critics say would have eroded the judiciary’s independence, staving off punitive action from the European Union but possibly setting up a fight with the country’s ruling party."
--
“As president I don’t feel this law would strengthen a sense of justice,” President Andrzej Duda said. “These laws must be amended.”
—
—

- Poola president vetostab kaks kolmest kohtureformi eelnõust
(ERR)

- Veto may be chance for dialogue with EU
(Radio Poland)



- How well do you know the Finns?
(Yle)




_____________

Sunday 23. July
_____________

- Commentary: How Putin sparked a Western military renaissance
(Daily Mail)
"NATO´s top priority is defending the most vulnerable northern and eastern European countries, particularly the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - once part of the Soviet Union, now within the Western alliance."
—
"Growing numbers of Western strategists believe Putin hopes Russia’s propaganda and political disruption efforts may ultimately cause both NATO and the European Union to collapse. Few see that as likely - but countries most vulnerable to Russia, such as the Baltic states and Finland, are taking few chances.”
--
"In the event of an invasion, the plan is for many of their troops - mostly conscripts - to withdraw into forests and mount hit-and-run attacks against Russian troops.”
--
“… Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark have quietly come together to form the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. It’s a framework that could deploy a substantial, sustainable force to defend the Baltic states - and would still exist even if the NATO and U.S. commitment to Europe vanished."

- Joint Expeditionary Force
(UK Ministry of Defence - 30. June)
"Launched in 2015, the joint force has continued to develop and will become fully operational next year, which could mean the mobilisation of 10,000 troops to respond quickly to a range of issues, using combat power, deterrence or humanitarian support."
--
"Spearheaded by the UK, Sweden and Finland make the JEF a nine-nation-strong pool of forces, alongside Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Norway. The JEF builds on many years of experience between the UK and these countries.”



- U.S. air-defense missiles deploy to Lithuania
(Reuters video)



- Ukraine’s Risky Bid to Join NATO
(World Affairs)














_____________

- Russia | U.S. -
"Trust No One"
_____________

- OpEd: U.S. Congress Defies Trump on Russia
(New York Times)
"The United States has struggled to find the right response to Russia’s hacking of the 2016 election ever since it was revealed last fall. President Barack Obama retaliated in December, but those sanctions did not sufficiently punish the Kremlin for interfering in America’s democratic processes or ensure it wouldn’t happen again. His successor has yet to grasp the urgency of going further."

- Europe is angry over the Russia sanctions bill
(Vox | EU Observer)
“… one specific new set of sanctions could wreak havoc on European energy companies. Here’s why. The new bill would allow the US to sanction any company involved in the maintenance or development of Russia’s energy export pipelines. That could cripple the construction of a colossal natural gas pipeline between Russia and Germany known as Nord Stream 2, which is owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom but also has European investors."
—

- Russian Sanctions: The GOP might tie Trump’s hands on Russia
(Vox)
"The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill that would impose new economic sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea and establish a policy that would prevent the president from unilaterally lifting them. The measure passed by an eye-opening 419-3 margin, and the Senate might end up voting on it as early as this week."

- Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill
(Daily Beast)
"The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed, 98-2, legislation that slaps new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea, sending the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk."

- Russia reportedly considering symmetrical and asymmetrical retaliation if U.S. moves ahead with new sanctions
(Meduza)
“… Moscow might limit the number of American diplomatic staff in Russia to the number of Russian diplomats allowed into the United States. Officials could also seize a U.S. diplomatic complex at Serebryany Bor in Moscow.”
—
"Russia could obstruct future U.S. efforts in the UN Security Council, particularly concerning North Korea; seize the assets and investments of U.S. companies in Russia; cut enriched uranium exports to American nuclear power plants and titanium shipments to U.S. companies like Boeing; and place new restrictions on American juggernauts like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Google, Facebook, Apple, Adobe, Microsoft, and major pharmaceutical manufacturers."



- Why Does the Kremlin Care So Much About the Magnitsky Act?
(The Atlantic)
"The Magnitsky Act is not, nor has it ever been, about adoptions."
--
"The Magnitsky Act, rather, is about money. It freezes certain Russian officials’ access to the stashes they were keeping in Western banks and real estate and bans their entry to the United States. The reason Russian (and now, American) officials keep talking about adoption in the same breath is because of how the Russian side retaliated to the Magnitsky Act in 2012, namely by banning American adoptions of Russian children. The Russians vowed they were punishing Americans who violated the human rights of Russians, after an adopted Russian toddler died of heat stroke in a Virginia family’s car. But the only Americans the bill directly targeted were the ones involved in putting the Magnitsky Act together."



- 10 maps that explain Russia's strategy
(Business Insider - originally published Feb. 2016)



- Russia's 6 reluctant allies
(CEPA)
"The handful of countries that enter Moscow-led organizations or engage in joint military exercises are either intimidated or enticed to participate.”
—
"Moscow projects its regional power through two main organizations – the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).”
—
“EEU: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan."
--
“CSTO: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.”



- This Is How the Russians Recruit You
(The Daily Beast)
“Counter-intelligence is about psychology and ego.”



- Putin Preparing to Reprise Stalin’s Winter War in Finland Strategy Against Ukraine
by Paul Goble
(Window on Eurasia)
Mr. Goble discusses an article by Israeli analyst Avraam Shmulyevich in the Russian edition of Postimees “ .. in which he suggests that the recent proclamation by Moscow’s agents in Ukraine of plans to create the state of Malorossiya has some disturbing parallels with Soviet actions against Finland in the Winter War of 1940."

- The source article in Russian -
(Postimees)



- Putin signs Syria base deal, cementing Russia's presence there for half a century
(Reuters)
"The document says Russian forces will be deployed at the Hmeymim base for 49 years with the option of extending that arrangement for 25-year periods."




- Russian lawmakers adopt final drafts of legislation cracking down on Internet anonymity
(Meduza)

- Russians protest state censorship of the internet
(Deutsche Welle | RFERL)
"Around 1,000 people have rallied in Moscow in protest of the government's harsh legislative controls of the internet. The internet is - for now - one of the few places relative freedom of speech exists in Russia."
—

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