Russians in Estonia Denounce the War:  

Another Nail in the Coffin of Putin’s ‘Russian World’

By Paul Goble

“… ethnic Russians who are members of Tallinn’s city council voted unanimously to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and those who support that crime and also to insist that Moscow has no right to establish a sphere of influence in the former Soviet space. … the vote of the ethnic Russian deputies in Tallinn should be remembered for what it demonstrates: the integration of ethnic Russians into Estonian life and the integration of Estonians, ethnically Estonian or Russian, into the West, something Putin says is unthinkable and impossible.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/04/another-nail-in-coffin-of-putins.html

“Russian citizens actively applying for Estonian citizenship.” - ERR

“Russian speakers in Estonia live in a tug of war between Russia and the West.” - NBC News

Eesti kodanikuks soovivate Vene kodanike arv on hüppeliselt kasvanud

(Postimees)

“Alates 24. veebruarist on avaldanud soovi saada Eesti kodakondsust 113 praegust Vene Föderatsiooni kodanikku. Seda on üle kolme korra rohkem, kui 2021. aasta samal perioodil. Kokku on PPA välismaalastelt sel aastal saanud 285 taotlust Eesti Vabariigi kodakondsuse saamiseks. Üle poole ehk 151 taotlust on esitanud Vene Föderatsiooni kodanikud.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7500232/eesti-kodanikuks-soovivate-vene-kodanike-arv-on-huppeliselt-kasvanud

Kremlin TV lost significance with Russian-speakers in Estonia

(ERR)

“A ban on pro-Kremlin, Russian-language TV channels broadcasting in Estonia put in place last month has led to a sharp decline in their significance to Russian-speaking people in Estonia, according to a recent survey. The share of people who trust Russian media as a whole – be it online news portals or TV channels – has also fallen, from 40 percent to 30 percent, over the same time-frame and among the same demographic. … 89 % of Estonian respondents to the survey said they trusted Estonian-language news sources' coverage of the conflict.”

https://news.err.ee/1608562720/survey-kremlin-channels-lose-significance-with-russian-speakers-in-estonia

Tallinna Raeapteek foto:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_tm-tm_-_Tallinna_Raeapteek.jpg

 

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Friday 15. April

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not led to a deteriorated domestic situation in Estonia - Kapo

(ERR)

“Russian intelligence and propaganda activities are still continuing as usual, however, head of the Internal Security Service (Kapo) Arnold Sinisalu says.”

https://news.err.ee/1608563518/iss-chief-ukraine-war-not-led-to-worsened-domestic-situation-in-estonia

“Välisluureameti avalik raport 2022.” - Välisluureametis

“Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service public report 2022.”

“Royal Welsh soldiers support Estonia amid conflict.” - BBC

“Four Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 ships visit Tallinn.” - ERR

“Estonia's national defense among the most cost-effective in NATO.” - ERR

“British troops in Estonia are ready for a fight, says commanding officer.”

“Estonian president on Ukraine visit: Children are playing in the rubble.” - ERR

“NATO: Estonia's capability improvements in line with alliance expectations.” - ERR

“Opinion: If Putin isn’t stopped in Ukraine, the Baltics are likely next.” - Washington Post

“President Alar Karis Ukrainast: see on vaatepilt, mida tegelikult vaadata ei tahaks.” - Postimees

“Zelensky calls on Estonia to promote increased EU sanctions against Russia, including oil embargo.” - Ukrinform

President Ilves välismeediale Vene-Ukraina sõjast: mitmed suured EL-i riigid on kaasosalised

(Postimees)

“Miks siis muidu, pärast Krimmi okupeerimist ja annekteerimist, sõlmiti 2015. aastal kokkulepe Nord Stream 2 osas? Ma ei ütleks, et kogu lääs, vaid Saksamaa on kaasosaline. Paljud suured Euroopa Liidu riigid on kaasosalised,” märkis president.

Ilvese arvates ei ole mõtet Venemaaga dialoogi pidada. “Mis mõtet on dialoogil riigiga, mida ei saa uskuda?” sõnas president, tuues näiteks sündmused Butšas, kus Venemaa mõrvas sadu tsiviilelanikke, kuid eitas seda. “Mida me teeme sellise riigiga, kes niiviisi valetab?”

https://www.postimees.ee/7501727/president-ilves-valismeediale-vene-ukraina-sojast-mitmed-suured-el-i-riigid-on-kaasosalised

Estonia's Former President Says No Point Negotiating With Russia

(RFERL)

“They lie. So I mean, why bother talking to liars? I mean, what is the point of dialogue with a country that you cannot believe in the slightest. So I mean, I guess dialogue is nice, but we're long past the time for that kind of dialogue, because they simply lie. Look at the response to Bucha (where hundreds of Ukrainian civilians were found dead after the withdrawal of Russian forces). They lie through their teeth. What do we do with a country that lies? What is a dialogue with a country that lies like that?”

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-ilves-interview-western-response/31805297.html?fbclid=IwAR01YculF_xmXHZwyQE_ZiPgk1asLecPV3foxfTAfa2a_8yQWKBs1Lnggb4

Estonia Abolishes Quarantine Requirement for Arrivals

(SchengenVisaInfo)

“Arrivals from other countries will no longer be subject to quarantine rules when entering Estonia; however, third-country nationals will still be required to present a valid proof that shows they have completed their immunization process against the virus.”

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/estonia-abolishes-quarantine-requirement-for-arrivals-from-other-countries/

Kaliningrad is Once Again ‘Russia’s Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier’ on the Baltic

By Paul Goble

“Aleksandr Nosovich, the editor of the Kaliningrad-based RuBaltic portal, says Russia has made security issues central. This focus has been in place since 2014 and as a result, Kaliningrad is far better prepared for anything the West might do than many now fear.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/04/kaliningrad-once-again-russias.html

Thursday 14. April

Tallinn’s Raeapteek: One of Europe’s oldest pharmacies turns 600

By Silver Tambur, Estonian World

“Raeapteek, literally meaning “municipal pharmacy” – has been continuously operating in the same premises in Tallinn Old Town since 1422, having first been mentioned on 8. April that year. In a town council’s notebook, there is an entry by a chemist named Nuclawes who stated that the owners of the pharmacy were ten honourable men, the majority of whom are aldermen.”

—

“For over 300 years and spanning 10 generations between 1582-1911, the business was run by the Burchart family. The association started when a Hungarian immigrant, Johann Burchart Both Belavary de Sykava, moved to Tallinn from present-day Bratislava and obtained a lease from the town council to run the pharmacy. …”

https://estonianworld.com/business/tallinns-raeapteek-one-of-the-oldest-pharmacies-in-europe-turns-600/

Rail Baltica publishes 2-billion-euro procurement plan for all 3 Baltic States

(Latvian Broadcasting)

“… providing an overview of the planned tenders, timeline, with the total planned contract amounts exceeding 2 billion euros.”

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/rail-baltica-publishes-2-billion-euro-procurement-plan.a452491/

“Procurement plan 2022.” - Rail Baltica

Analysis: Finland And Sweden's Steady March Toward NATO

(RFERL)

“The big questions right now are no longer if, but rather when Finland and Sweden will join NATO, if they will do so together, and - perhaps most crucially - if they will get certain security guarantees in the (likely) period of months between their applications and actually being approved as full members of the alliance. Make no mistake that this is a big Copernican shift in two countries which have been militarily nonaligned since the end of World War II.”

—

“For Finland, it will be the ultimate move in finally unshackling itself from the Cold War notion of “Finlandization,” when the Soviet Union let the country be independent but had a big influence on its policy choices.”

—

“For Sweden, the sense of being “neutral” has been shaping its political life for decades, if not centuries. Having managed to stay out of both world wars during the 20th century, its last recognized military conflict was against Norway in 1814.”
—
“It is, in other words, a big deal for both countries.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/finland-sweden-nato-memberships-jozwiak-analysis/31803749.html

“Finnish government sets stage for historic parliamentary debate on Nato.” - Helsinki Times

“Allies practise air interoperability with Finland and Sweden over Estonia.” - NATO

“Putin thought Ukraine war was a missile to Nato. It may be a boomerang.” - Guardian

“Finland and Sweden Approach NATO’s Open Door.” - Foreign Policy

Finland in NATO could tilt the balance.” - Foreign Policy

“What Finland Can Offer NATO.” - Foreign Policy

Russia warns of nuclear weapons in Baltic if Sweden and Finland join Nato

(The Guardian)

“However, the Lithuanian defence minister, Arvydas Anušauskas, claimed on Thursday that Russia already had nuclear weapons stored in its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, which borders Lithuania and Poland. That claim has not been independently verified, but the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) reported in 2018 that nuclear weapon storage bunkers in Kaliningrad had been upgraded.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/14/russia-says-it-will-reinforce-borders-if-sweden-and-finland-join-nato

“Russia's Medvedev issues warning about Finland, Sweden Nato membership.” - Yle

“Lithuania says there's nothing new in Russia's nuclear threats.” - Reuters

“Russia already has nuclear weapons in the Baltic region, says Lithuania.” - Reuters

Crypto crackdown ripples through the Baltics

(Politico-Europe)

“Estonia's recent tightening of anti-money laundering measures to flush illicit crypto financiers out of its market is leading neighbors Latvia and Lithuania to strengthen their regulatory demands on crypto companies.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/crypto-crackdown-ripples-through-baltics/

“Crypto bears the brunt of Estonia’s war against dirty money.” - Politico

Wednesday 13. April

Balti riikide ja Poola presidendid külastasid Kiievi purustatud eeslinnu

(Postimees)

“49. sõjapäeval külastasid Kiievit ja selle eeslinnu Balti riikide ja Poola presidendid, kes õhtupoolikul said kokku ka Ukraina riigipea Volodõmõr Zelenskõiga. Samal ajal jätkub sõda Ukraina ida- ja lõunaosas ning ilmsiks tulevad aina uued tsiviilelankike vastu toime pandud koledused.”

https://maailm.postimees.ee/7500312/balti-riikide-ja-poola-presidendid-kulastasid-kiievi-purustatud-eeslinnu#_ga=2.108892674.1414501526.1649873744-1376908514.1646718112

“Vene telesaade Karisest ja Zelenskõist: “Me peaks pommitama Kiievit, siis nad ei sõida kohale.” - Postimees

“Polish and Baltic presidents meet with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.” - BNN

“Presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia visited Kyiv.” - AP

“Polish, Baltic Presidents Visit Ukraine In Show Of Support.” - Huffpost

“Ukraina visiidil klõpsatud foto pani meemimeistrid tööle.” - Postimees

Baltic Countries Feel Struggle in Ukraine is ‘Our War’ and are Playing an Important Role on Several Fronts

By Paul Goble

“Putin’s calls for NATO to expel the three from NATO have angered the Baltic peoples but they have also had the unintended consequence of leading the leaders of the Western alliance to reaffirm their support for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and provide expanded military support to these three frontline states.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/04/baltic-countries-feel-struggle-in.html

“Half of households in Estonia have donated money to Ukraine.” - ERR

Prime Minister Marin meets with Swedish Prime Minister in Stockholm

(Valtioneuvosto - Finnish Government)

“Parliament must assess what kind of security Finland’s potential NATO membership would offer. We must be very open to all of the consequences and risks involved. There are risks over both the short and long term. There are risks if we apply for membership and if we do not,” Prime Minister Marin said.”

https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/10616/prime-minister-marin-meets-with-swedish-prime-minister-in-stockholm

With Eye on Russia, Finland, Sweden Move Toward NATO Membership

(RFERL | BBC | Guardian | Washington Post)

“Finland's prime minister says Helsinki is moving toward a decision on applying to join NATO "within weeks" against the backdrop of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. "I think it will happen quite fast. Within weeks, not within months," Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters in Stockholm on April 13.”

—

“Marin's Swedish counterpart, Magdalena Andersson, also signaled a major policy shift for her Nordic nation as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying at the same press conference that the current security situation would be discussed amid reports that Stockholm is also seeking to join the Western security alliance.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-finland-sweden-membership-russia/31801570.html

—

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61093302

—

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/13/finland-and-sweden-could-apply-for-nato-membership-in-weeks?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

—

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/13/nato-finland-sweden/

“Putin’s plan to stop NATO backfires.” - CNN

“Report: Changes in the security environment for Finland.”

“Survey: Majority of Finns consider Russia a significant military threat.”

“Soome peab NATOga liitudes arvestama pingeid Venemaaga.” - Postimees

“Joining the alliance will never again be this easy — and Stockholm should seize its chance.” - Politico Europe

“Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) has said that Finland will likely decide on joining Nato within weeks.” - Yle

“Statement by the President of Finland: Report on changes in the security environment published – joint work for Finland will continue.” - Office of the President of the Republic of Finland: Press release

Finland and Sweden joining Nato would increase security in the Baltic Sea region

(Yle)

"If Finland applied for Nato membership, it should be prepared for extensive efforts to exercise influence and risks that are difficult to anticipate, such as increasing tensions on the border between Finland and Russia," the report noted, adding that close cooperation between Finland and Sweden will be important. Finland may also face increased Russian activity on its eastern border, such as military training drills, although Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen (Cen) said on Wednesday that the military situation in the region currently remains calm.”

https://yle.fi/news/3-12403898

Estonia Stops Granting New Visas and Residence Permits to Russians and Belarusians

(SchengenVisaInfo)

“We must decisively restrict the opportunities for the citizens of these two countries to come to Estonia and settle down.”

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/estonia-stops-granting-new-visas-residence-permits-for-work-or-business-to-russians-belarusians/

“Russian, Belarusian haulers can no longer enter Estonia, EU.” - ERR

“Narva – Venemaale deporteeritute aken Euroopasse.” - Postimees

The war on Estonian forests

By David Millington, Estonian World

“… across the country, the Estonian government is leading an extraordinary effort to cut down swaths of the country’s forests.”

https://estonianworld.com/life/the-war-on-estonian-forests/

Nato’s ‘achilles heel’: alliance conducts war games in Lithuania

(The Guardian)

“As Nato members prepare to meet in Madrid in June, Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbour Estonia, is calling on Nato to urgently adjust its posture in the region from deterrence to what it calls “forward defence”.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/11/nato-achilles-heel-alliance-conducts-war-games-nervous-lithuania?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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Putin’s War

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Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment: 14. April 2022

(ISW)

[ISW produces excellent, detailed, open-source intelligence analysis.]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-14

Toomas Hendrik Ilves: Putin needs a win 

(CBC News)

“Putin has to achieve something, because his initial goal in Ukraine really failed.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Go1OiN_x10

Kaja Kallas: Russia’s war against Ukraine displays clear signs of genocide

(ERR)

"Russian leaders have clearly demonstrated their will to destroy the Ukrainian state and people in both words and deeds. Russia's war against Ukraine displays clear signs of genocide," she said in a statement.”

https://news.err.ee/1608563941/russia-s-war-against-ukraine-displays-clear-signs-of-genocide-estonian-pm

Russia’s Moskva cruiser sinks following Ukrainian claim of missile strike

(The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/14/russia-moskva-cruiser-sunk-stormy-seas-defense-ministry

“Analüüs: Ukraina uputas Moskva.” - Postimees

“Vene kaitseministeerium: ristleja Moskva läks kummuli ning uppus.” - Delfi

“Opinion: Russia keeps losing wars because of its dysfunctional military culture.” - Washington Post

Russia’s New Top Commander in Ukraine, General Aleksandr Dvornikov, is ‘Willing to Sell His Soul’

(Foreign Policy)

“In Syria, Dvornikov oversaw a brutal campaign of airstrikes that included the flattening of Aleppo, the bombing of United Nations aid convoys, and near-daily targeting of civilians in Idlib province with bombings of schools and hospitals. Dvornikov’s appointment is expected to coincide with an even more brutal phase of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine …”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/04/12/russia-new-top-commander-dvornikov-ukraine/

“General Aleksandr Dvornikov appointed by Vladimir Putin to lead efforts to reboot the invasion of Ukraine .” - The Guardian

“Does Russian commander in Ukraine deserve his 'bloody' reputation?” - Deutsche Welle

“General Alexander Dvornikov is a veteran of Syria’s civil war.” - Economist

“Putin’s Leading War Generals and the Legacy of Syria.” - Jamestown Org.

Putin insists Russia will achieve its ‘noble’ goals in Ukraine

(The Guardian)

“Vladimir Putin has insisted that his bloody campaign in Ukraine will continue until its “noble” goals have been achieved, arguing that the invasion was proceeding as planned, despite fierce Ukrainian resistance and heavy losses among Russian forces.

“We will achieve our objectives, there are no doubts,” Putin told workers at the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s far east, in his first public comments on the war since his forces were forced to retreat from northern Ukraine more than a week ago.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/12/vladimir-putin-insist-russia-will-achieve-noble-goal-ukraine-dismiss-bucha-killing-fake?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Survivors Describe the Russian Atrocities in Bucha

(Spiegel)

“Russian soldiers shot and killed hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha, just north of Kyiv. … Russian troops have demolished the port city of Mariupol and fired indiscriminately at residential districts in Kharkiv. They have abducted civilians, raped women, looted shops and homes – and they have killed. But in Bucha, their violence against the civilian population unfolded in a particularly horrific manner. …”

https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/a-closer-look-at-the-russian-atrocities-in-bucha-do-you-want-to-die-quickly-or-slowly-a-513b1e84-0e3a-42e9-bf17-d90e0ef9b119

“Putin Lost The Ukraine War Before It Even Started.” - RFERL

“Biden refers to Russian invasion of Ukraine as ‘genocide’.” - CBC

“Putin vows Russia won't be isolated.” - Deutsche Welle

“Ukraine announces arrest of Putin ally Viktor Medvedchuk.” - Guardian

“Russian Troops Took Highly Radioactive ‘Souvenirs’ From Chernobyl.” - Vice News

“Even for a veteran combat photojournalist, the scenes of atrocities in Ukraine are horrifying.” - Washington Post

How Kyiv was saved by Ukrainian ingenuity as well as Russian blunders

(Financial Times)

“The Russian attempt to take Kyiv was defeated by a combination of factors including geography, the attackers’ blundering, Ukrainian ingenuity and modern arms — as well as smartphones: used for the first time in military history as weapons powerful in their own way as rockets and artillery.”

—

“Moscow’s forces were thwarted, too, by pieces of foam mat — the Ukrainians call them karemats — costing as little as £1.50. The mats prevent Russian thermal imaging drones from detecting human heat. “We held the karemats over our head,” said Konoko, explaining how his men moved stealthily in tiny groups at night. In that way soldiers armed with anti-tank weapons supplied by the US, Britain and others could sneak up on the Russians, fire their deadly and accurate missiles and then slip away. …”

https://www.ft.com/content/e87fdc60-0d5e-4d39-93c6-7cfd22f770e8

Putin’s War on History

(Foreign Affairs)

“A variation on the “Ukraine doesn’t really exist” theme is the Kremlin’s assertion that Ukraine is a foregone failure. According to this view, long echoed in a more sophisticated form by Western commentators—thanks to its geography and political history, Ukraine is forever destined to be riven by internal division or torn apart by more powerful neighbors. This was the core narrative of Putin’s propaganda the last time he invaded Ukraine … As the extraordinary resilience and unity of the Ukrainian population in the current war have demonstrated, these Russian claims are nonsense.”

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2022-04-06/putins-war-history-ukraine-russia

And Finally:

The Myth of ‘NATO Expansion’ Can't Explain Russia's War on Ukraine

(National Interest)

“Simply put, “NATO Expansion” is a misnomer. While it is technically correct to assert that the organization has grown in membership, this phrasing is laced with imperialist overtones that suggest that the West coerced ex-communist states into joining NATO. However, the history of post-Cold War Europe shows that the young nations were in fact more eager to join NATO than the West was to accept them.”

—

“In the Baltics, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were unwavering in their suspicion of Moscow’s intentions. Exacerbated by Russia’s continued refusal to acknowledge its past abuses against them, the Baltic states saw NATO membership as the most feasible way to assuage their fears of Russian aggression. On the region’s support for the alliance, former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga said it best: “The fact that you can go to bed and not worry about somebody knocking on the door and putting you on a train for Siberia.”

—

“Throughout the Clinton and Bush administrations, the Baltics’ aspirations for NATO membership were evident. When the opportunity arose to demonstrate their military value to NATO, they delivered by volunteering with NATO members to form the Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion and participating in NATO’s Afghanistan mission without contingencies for membership. The three states took every preliminary step by signing onto the Partnership for Peace, Membership Action Plan (MAP), Vilnius Group, and Baltic Charter of Partnership, which aimed to “create the conditions” for NATO admittance and ultimately made their fate inevitable.”

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/myth-‘nato-expansion’-cant-explain-russias-war-ukraine-201789

Patrick Chapatte | Voxeurop

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