Laupäeval võib tulla kuni 15 külmakraadi

(Virumaa Teataja)

https://virumaateataja.postimees.ee/7400677/laupaeval-voib-tulla-kuni-15-kulmakraadi#_ga=2.210792275.732818348.1638417048-6318834.1631645061

“Lund tuleb aina juurde.” - ERR

“Lumekahurid toovad suusarajad ka Põhja-Eestisse.” - ERR

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COVID: Health Board predicts Estonia will reach 'green' risk level by Christmas

(ERR)

“The 14-day infection rate decreased in all 15 Estonian counties by an average of 21 percent over the last week, the highest decrease was in Lääne-Viru County (41.4 percent), Lääne County (40.8 percent), Rapla County (31.1 percent) and Tartu County (30 percent).”

https://news.err.ee/1608421943/health-board-predicts-estonia-will-reach-green-risk-level-by-christmas

“COVID-19 andmed seisuga 29.11.2021.” - Eesti Terviseamet

“Wastewater study: Coronavirus levels decreasing across Estonia.” - ERR

“Estonian health minister: Restrictions to be eased sufficiently for New Year's Eve.” - The Baltic Times

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Friday 3. Dec.

Eesti kaitseväelased jõudsid Poolasse

(Postimees)

“Kaitseväe sihtüksuse 74-liikmeline põhigrupp jõudis täna Poola Lublini vojevoodkonda. … Eesti sihtüksuse pioneerirühma ülesanne saab olema piiritõkete ehitamine ja parandamine, luuremeeskond hakkab täitma vaatlusülesandeid piiriäärses regioonis, kaamerameeskonnad toetavad audiovisuaalse materjali kogumisega ning toetuselement tagab sihtüksuse logistika- ja tagalaalase toetuse.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7400456/eesti-kaitsevaelased-joudsid-poolasse

“Estonia and UK send troops to Poland to assist in border crisis.” - Stars and Stripes

“Poland’s persistent forbidden zone on the border with Belarus.” - Politico

Estonian govt supports more ambitious plan for eastern border construction

(Baltic Times)

“Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday presented a plan to increase the ambition for the construction of the eastern border, which also received the government's approval and the necessary funding in the amount of 22.5 million euros. … A total of 115 kilometers of border infrastructure will be built along the land border. … an additional 20.7 kilometers of delay fence will be built there.”

—

“… 14 radar and camera positions will be built to monitor the Narva River, which will allow 95 percent of the river border to be monitored by technical surveillance instead of the 70 percent realized so far.”

https://www.baltictimes.com/estonian_govt_supports_more_ambitious_plan_for_eastern_border_construction/

Opinion: Time for NATO Fortitude to Deter Russian Threats

By Kurt Volker, CEPA

“The alliance must not blink or compromise its values in the face of Kremlin menace toward its friends.”

https://cepa.org/a-time-for-nato-fortitude-to-deter-russian-threats/

Ukraine warns of possible Russian 'escalation' in January

(Deutsche Welle)

“Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliament on Friday that Russia has massed over 94,000 troops near the border. … Reznikov also said Ukraine was forging ahead with the construction of two naval bases as part of a defense deal with Britain.

Both would be near the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.”

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-warns-of-possible-russian-escalation-in-january/a-60011553

“Ukraine says it will not abandon NATO goal or give 'security guarantee' to Russia.” - Euronews

“Kremlin claims Ukraine may try to win back rebel-controlled regions by force.” - The Hill

“President Karis: EL peab vajadusel kiiresti reageerima Venemaa eskalatsioonile Ukraina piiril.” - Postimees

“NATO Must Adapt to an Era of Hybrid Threats.” - Carnegie Europe

“Russia accuses West of 'artificially' raising tensions over Ukraine border situation.” - CBC

“Defense ministers of Estonia and France discuss Ukraine crisis.” - Baltic Times

“As Russia masses its troops, Canadian soldiers in Latvia keep watch.” - CBC

"Aktuaalne kaamera" käis Ida-Ukrainas rindejoonel.” - ERR

“Lavrov: Venemaal on vaja piiridel julgeolekugarantiisid.” - ERR

Ukraine, Estonia agree on joint action to repel Russian aggression - Ukrinform

“Putin looking for guarantees NATO won't expand westward.” - The Hill

Will Putin Invade Ukraine (Again)?

(New/Lines Magazine)

“As a lifelong KGB officer, Putin has an instinctive understanding of the strategic value of dissimulation and dezinformatsiya — or ‘deza,’ in the jargon of the trade. The world-class, weaponized deza spun by the Kremlin is the backbone of his power at home and the secret of Russia’s ability to punch above its weight abroad, particularly in the absence of an empire, which once encompassed a sixth of the earth. Putin himself is a glib and cold-blooded public liar. See, for instance, his initial denial of any Russian troops in Crimea in April 2014; before his acknowledgement in a Russian documentary a year later that these were indeed responsible for the hostile seizure of the peninsula.”

https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/will-putin-invade-ukraine-again/

Ukraine: A full-scale attack seems improbable – but the troop buildup is enough to have Nato warn of sanctions

(The Guardian)

“Neil Melvin, the director of international security studies at the Rusi thinktank, described the buildup as “much more serious” than was seen in April, because there is some evidence of meaningful combat preparations, notably in the field modifications sported by Russian armour. … A full-scale attack remains hard to imagine, however, and Russia’s aim is most likely diplomatic. Melvin believes that Russia hopes to restart the stalled Minsk peace process, the 2014-2015 agreements struck after Russia seized Crimea and separatists took over the Donbass region, now divided from the rest of the country by sniping over military frontlines.”

—

“Russia wants to neutralise Ukraine and turn it into a buffer state.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/02/ukraine-border-russia-west-troop-buildup?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Opinion: Russians Believe Ukrainians Want to Be ‘Liberated’

(Foreign Policy)

“For years now, Russian state propaganda has churned out stories of how nightmarish the lives of Ukrainians are. Ukrainians—who recently elected a Jewish president—are portrayed as having their lives controlled by Nazis, agents of George Soros (a regular target of anti-Semitism), and other evil-doers. These stories are further buffeted by long-standing Russian stereotypes of Ukrainians as their little brothers who are living in an “artificial state”—with the nation portrayed as a byproduct of Soviet bureaucracy, not an organic nation like Russia itself. Ukrainians are Russia’s “fraternal brothers” and the two countries are “one people.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/02/russia-ukraine-liberated/

Interview: Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State (Riga, 1. Dec.)

(US State Department transcript)

[The interviewer is Ina Strazdiņa of Latvian Broadcasting.]

https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-with-ina-strazdina-of-ltv/

Rumor: Human traffickers are said to offer Russia as alternative route to EU

(RFERL video)

“… according to the head of a team monitoring Arabic and Kurdish social media.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-russia-migrants/31592702.html

Kaja Kallas otse-eetris: EKRE trollid töötavad korralikult

(Postimees)

“Henri küsis peaministrilt, millal ta tagasi astub ning teise küsimusena küsis, kas peaminister mõistab seda, et rahvas teda ei salli. «llu on vaataja silmades, kellele ei meeldi see erakond keda teie valite ja on inimesi, kellele ei meeldi see erakond või mina isiklikult. Praegu on mul valitsusjuhi kohustus ja neid kohustusi ma täidan,» vastas Kallas.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7400576/kaja-kallas-otse-eetris-ekre-trollid-tootavad-korralikult

Thursday 2. Dec.

Valitsus hakkab Euroopas võitlema Eesti raiemahu vähendamise vastu

Ülle Harju, Postimees

“Praegu on küsimus selles, kas Eesti riik seisab Eesti ühiskonna või ühe huvigrupi eest,” märkis (Eestimaa Looduse Fondi metsaprogrammi juht) Siim Kuresoo, viidates sellele, et hiljutise Norstati küsitluse järgi pooldab kolm neljandikku Eesti inimestest raiemahu vähendamist. Metsatöösturid võitlevad aga selle vastu, väites, et nii jäävad paljud maainimesed tööta. Samal ajal kurdavad töösturid meedias suure tööjõupuuduse üle ja nõuavad, et välistööjõu lubamist Eestisse lihtsustataks.”

https://leht.postimees.ee/7397136/valitsus-hakkab-euroopas-voitlema-eesti-raiemahu-vahendamise-vastu

“RMK ei ütle, millised metsad eksministri käsul raiumata jätab.” - Postimees

“Riigimetsas vähenev raie võib hoopis suurendada raiepindala.” - Maa Elu

Pööningult leiti küüditamise eel tehtud haruldased fotoplaanid

(Novaator)

“Ka äsja eramaja pööningult leitud fotoplaanid kannavad ajaloolist taaka. Need on loodud aastail 1947–1948, mil vastkehtestatud Nõukogude võim kiiresti ja põhjalikult Eestimaad kaardistas. Üleminek plaanimajanduse taktikepi alla ning kolhooside ja sovhooside loomine oli sõjas kannatanud põllumajandusele šokk. Võib arvata, et lisaks tootmistegevuse planeerimisele võidi leitud sääraseid kaarte kasutada ka repressioonide planeerimisel. Märtsiküüditamine seisis nende kaartide loomise ajal veel ees.”

https://novaator.err.ee/1608422870/pooningult-leiti-kuuditamise-eel-tehtud-haruldased-fotoplaanid

Putin tahab juriidilisi garantiisid, et NATO ei laiene rohkem itta

(Delfi)

“Meie diplomaatia ees on esmatähtsusega ülesanne: saavutada tugevate, vastupidavate ja pikaajaliste julgeolekugarantiide andmine. Dialoogis Ühendriikide ja nende liitlastega hakkame nõudma konkreetsete kokkulepete väljatöötamist, mis välistaksid NATO igasuguse edaspidise liikumise itta ja meid ohustavate relvasüsteemide paigutamise Venemaa territooriumi vahetusse lähedusse,” ütles Putin, pakkudes Lääne partneritele sellel teemal sisulisi läbirääkimisi. Putin märkis välisriikide suursaadikute volikirjade vastuvõtmise tseremoonial, et „oht meie läänepiiridel tõesti kasvab”. …”

https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/95282887/putin-tahab-juriidilisi-garantiisid-et-nato-ei-laiene-rohkem-itta

Niinistö Putini garantiide nõudmisest: Soomel on võimalus sõjalistesse liitudesse astuda

(Delfi)

“Venemaa kriitilisus NATO laienemise ja sõjalise tegevuse suhtes ei ole uus asi. Soome peab NATO-t julgeolekut ja stabiilsust suurendavaks tegijaks Euroopas,” ütles Niinistö.

Niinistö rõhutas, et Soome välis-, julgeoleku- ja kaitsepoliitika alus on rahvusliku liikumisruumi ja valikuvõimaluste säilitamine.”

—

“See sisaldab ka võimalust sõjalistesse liitudesse astuda ja taotleda NATO liikmelisust,” ütles Niinistö. “Tähtis osa sellest tervikust on NATO niinimetatud avatud uste poliitika ehk liikmelisuse võimaluste säilimine avatuna NATO eeldused täitvatele riikidele.”

https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/95295417/niinisto-putini-garantiide-noudmisest-soomel-on-voimalus-sojalistesse-liitudesse-astuda

Saksa sõjavägi saatis Angela Merkeli pensionile kirikulaulu ja punkpalaga

(Postimees)

“Enne kui Saksamaad 16 aastat juhtinud Angela Merkel annab võimu tuleval nädalal üle uuele kantslerile Olaf Scholzile, avaldati talle sõjaväelise tseremooniaga austust Berliinis, kus kõlasid valitsusjuhi enda valitud ja avalikkusele paraja üllatuse pakkunud muusikapalad.”

https://maailm.postimees.ee/7399735/sojavagi-saatis-merkeli-pensionile-kirikulaulu-ja-punkpalaga#_ga=2.138292086.732818348.1638417048-6318834.1631645061

Belarus KGB created fake FB accounts to criticize Poland during border crisis

(Washington Post)

“More than 40 Facebook accounts, five groups and four Instagram accounts posed as journalists and activists from the E.U., particularly Poland and Lithuania, Meta said in an announcement Wednesday. The accounts posted criticism of Poland in English, Polish and Kurdish, including pictures and videos about Polish border guards allegedly violating migrants’ rights. … The accounts have since been removed.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/meta-belarus-kgb-poland-facebook/2021/12/02/ffaa73f8-534d-11ec-83d2-d9dab0e23b7e_story.html

“Lääneriigid jõustasid täiendavad sanktsioonid Lukašenka režiimile.” - Postimees

Wednesday 1. Dec.

China Rebukes Estonian Lawmakers for Voicing Support for Taiwan

(Bloomberg | ERR)

“China lashed out at Estonia after two of its lawmakers visited Taiwan, where they voiced their support for democracy on the island. Ruling party members Juri Jaanson and Madis Milling arrived in Taipei this week as part of a Baltic delegation for the 2021 Open Parliament Forum, attending meetings with Taiwan’s president, prime minister and foreign minister.”

—

“Their actions sparked an outcry from China’s embassy in Tallinn, which issued a statement on Tuesday, saying actions taken by the lawmakers were condemnable and “grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs, undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously go against the one-China policy pursued by Estonia, and damage the China-Estonia relations.” Estonia’s Foreign Ministry said that the European Union and NATO member state is sticking to the one-China policy and has no plans to reconsider.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-01/china-rebukes-estonian-lawmakers-for-voicing-support-for-taiwan

—

https://news.err.ee/1608421721/chinese-embassy-upset-with-estonian-mps-for-participating-in-taiwan-meeting

“Estonia should move 'step by step' towards recognizing Taiwan.” - ERR

“Baltic lawmakers meet Taiwan's Tsai, stepping up cooperation.” - Euronews

“Why Taiwan Matters to Europe.” - International Politik

“Taiwan hopes for ‘robust and close relations’ with Baltic states.” - South China Morning Post

Are Russia and Ukraine Once Again on the Brink of War?

(Carnegie Moscow)

“Even if Russia were only responding to action taken by Ukraine, it would still be seen as invading: something the West has warned against. Amid the chaos of resumed hostilities, it would not be immediately clear who started it. Once again, the world is discussing the possibility of Russia waging war against Ukraine. This time, however, the circumstances are extraordinary.”

https://carnegiemoscow.org/commentary/85892

“US warns Russia has plans for ‘large scale’ attack on Ukraine.” - The Guardian

“Offense or defense? Russia increases troops along Ukraine border.” - Christian Science Monitor

“NATO warns Russia not to make any further moves against Ukraine. … what’s the "or else”?” - Deutsche Welle

“Ukraine’s Troubles, Putin’s ‘Red Lines’ and Biden’s Warnings.” - Jamestown

“U.S. Warns Russia of ‘High-Impact’ Sanctions If It Invades Ukraine.” - The Moscow Times

“Ukraine Will Fight, and Ukraine Will Be Right.” - CEPA

Russian Foreign Policy: Shifting Gears

(Carnegie Moscow)

“Diplomacy is de facto paralyzed in Russia’s relations with Ukraine, NATO, the European Union’s leading powers such as Germany and France, and with the United States as far as Ukraine is concerned. The Kremlin has at this point completely written off Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a negotiating partner. In exasperation with the Europeans de facto siding with Kyiv against Moscow on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, the Foreign Ministry published diplomatic correspondence between its head Sergey Lavrov and his counterparts in Paris and Berlin; according to Sergei Ryabkov, Lavrov’s deputy, recent exchanges on Ukraine with visiting U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland produced zero results and zero understanding in Washington of Moscow’s arguments.”

https://carnegiemoscow.org/commentary/85827

Tuesday 30. Dec.

Sõjakalt nõudeid eiranud kohvik pakiti kokku

(Postimees)

“Terviseamet sulges kohviku ja keelas igasuguse äritegevuse koroonaaktivisti Elvis Braueri (EKRE) MÉM Cafes, mis järjepidevalt eiras seoses koroonaviiruse levikuga kehtivaid kontrollnõudeid. Terve päeva vältel kogunes politseilindiga piiratud kohviku ette sadakond inimest, kes avaldasid Brauerile toetust. Ilm oli jäine.”

https://leht.postimees.ee/7398090/sojakalt-noudeid-eiranud-kohvik-pakiti-kokku#_ga=2.115425606.1909362507.1638320551-6318834.1631645061

Estonia to merge police and navy vessels into one fleet by 2023

(Naval Technology)

“The Government of Estonia has decided to merge the Estonian Navy (Merevägi) vessels and civilian Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB) vessels into one fleet by 1. January 2023. … For Estonia, situational awareness at sea will improve significantly with this decision, which in turn will give us the opportunity to be present at sea more extensively and in a smarter fashion.”

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/estonia-merge-police-navy-vessels-one-fleet/

Lithuania Is Taking On Mighty China

(Carnegie Moscow)

“By acting as the driving force behind anti-Chinese initiatives, Lithuania hopes to focus U.S. attention on the region and procure guarantees that Washington will not scale back its presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states. Just a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that one of the most fiercely anti-Chinese countries in the world would turn out to be little Lithuania.”

—

“Vilnius has inspired other Western countries and institutions to take similar measures: the European Parliament has approved a resolution on cooperation with Taiwan, and the EU Parliament and U.S. Congress and State Department have all praised Lithuania’s initiative in this area. The small Baltic republic, whose international activity was until recently associated almost exclusively with standing up to Russia, has opened a second front by entering into a confrontation with China.”

https://carnegiemoscow.org/commentary/85873

“As China gets angry at Lithuania’s actions, some see great benefits coming out of it.” - Lithuanian Tribune

Diplomacy: Different Tactics of Estonia and Norway on the UN Security Council

(ICDS)

“In 2021 when the Taliban regained power over Afganistan, Estonia and Norway were co-penholders of the Afghanistan file in the UN Security Council. …”

https://icds.ee/en/small-states-at-the-top-of-global-diplomacy-different-tactics-of-estonia-and-norway-on-the-un-security-council/

Minsk, Moscow Announce Joint Military Drills As NATO Prepares To Discuss Russian Troop Buildup

(RFERL)

“Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Khrenin said on November 29 that the exercises would be held on its border with Ukraine in the "medium term.” He did not provide a date for the exercises with Russia, but suggested they were in response to alleged new military deployments in countries to the west and south of Belarus.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-russia-drills-ukraine/31585734.html

Can NATO strike the right balance of force and diplomatic fortitude to make the Kremlin back off?

(Deutsche Welle)

“The most worrisome … for NATO at the moment is likely the Black Sea, where CSG21 (UK's Carrier Strike Group 21) engaged in military exercises in June, and where the tide of tension has again risen as Russia reinforces its troop presence on the border with Ukraine after an earlier such boost in March and April. … After that came the Minsk-facilitated — and, many insist, Moscow-backed — flow of migrants over Belarus' borders with NATO allies Latvia, Lithuania and especially Poland. The West has accused Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants in an attempt to destabilize the European Union. Polish President Andrzej Duda has said the Belarus border issue and the Ukraine buildup cannot be seen separately.”

https://www.dw.com/en/meeting-near-russian-border-nato-weighs-response-to-moscows-military-maneuvers/a-59960106

 F-35 Lightning Plus ‘StormBreaker’: No Tank Will Ever Be Safe Again

(National Interest)

[Note: F-35s have operated at Ämari AFB for quite some time.]

—

“The weapon gives the F-35 the ability to carry as many as twenty StormBreakers at one time, allowing the jet to track and destroy multiple moving targets on a single mission. … The F-35's ability to track enemy configurations of armored vehicles with high-fidelity sensors and engage enemy ground targets from great stand-off ranges with precision air-to-ground weapons is well established. But the capacity to destroy heavy armor introduces substantial new tactical and strategic dynamics for the fifth-generation jet.”

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-35-lightning-plus-stormbreaker-no-tank-will-ever-be-safe-again-197204

“F-35B conducts first drop test of StormBreaker smart weapon.” - Navy Tech

“StormBreaker Smart Weapon.” - Raytheon Technologies

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