Narva ja Rakvere purustatud
Vene tanki ei näita
(ERR)
“Mitmes Eesti linnas eksponeeritavat Ukrainas purustatud Vene tanki Narvas ja Rakveres ei näidata. "Meie president Alar Karis hoiatas möödunud aastal, et Narva ei peaks muutuma ühe tanki linnaks. Las see nüüd nii jääbki. Narva mõtestab alles ühe tanki teisaldamist ja soovime praegu tankivabalt oma eluga edasi minna," sõnas Narva linnapea Katri Raik sotsiaalmeedias.”
—
“Tema hinnangul võiks Narvas avada fotonäituse Vene agressiooni põhjustatud kannatustest ja purustustest Ukrainas. "Tänan kaitseminister Hanno Pevkurit mõistmise eest. Purustatud tank 8. märtsil Narva ei saabu," lisas Raik.”
—
“Narvas oli plaan vrakki näidata 8. kuni 11. märtsini.”
https://www.err.ee/1608901157/narva-ja-rakvere-purustatud-vene-tanki-ei-naita
“Mitmed Eesti linnad ei taha Ukrainast kohaletoodud Vene tankivrakki.” - Estonian World Review
“Lilled Vene tankil ei saa enam kunagi Eestis positiivseks sümboliks.” - ERR
“Purustatud Vene tank liikus järgmise linna ootel hoiule.” - ERR
Captured Russian tank removed from Tallinn's Freedom Square
(ERR | VOA)
“On Thursday, the Estonian Ministry of Defense removed the war-damaged T-72 Russian tank from Tallinn's Freedom Square (Vabaduse väjlak), where it had been on display since 25. February. The tank, which was brought to Estonia from Ukraine … will no longer go to Narva or Rakvere. Instead, it has now been placed into temporary storage …”
—
“Nerijus Maliukevicius, an analyst at Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius, said he believes the placement of pro-Russia tributes at the tanks are part of an organized Kremlin tactic, noting that the images of them have ended up on social media and state television.”
https://news.err.ee/1608902003/captured-russian-tank-moved-from-tallinn-s-freedom-square
—
https://www.voanews.com/a/russians-place-flowers-at-burned-out-tanks-in-baltic-cities-/6985594.html
“Russia Supporters Lay Flowers on Captured Tanks, Stoking Tensions in the Baltics.” - Bloomberg
“Police fine person who refused to remove flowers from destroyed tank exhibit.” - Postimees
ERR Valimisblogi: uudised ja tähelepanekud riigikogu valimistest
(ERR)
“27. veebruaril algas Eestis riigikogu valimiste nädal, mis kulmineerub 5. märtsi hilisõhtul valimistulemuste selgumisega. ERR.ee koondab sellesse blogisse valimisteemalised uudised, fotod, videod, arvamused ja muud riigikogu valimistega seotud tähelepanekud.”
https://www.err.ee/1608898271/err-ee-valimisblogi-uudised-ja-tahelepanekud-riigikogu-valimistest
ERR’s 2023 Election page:
https://news.err.ee/k/elections-2023
Delfi: Riigikogu valimised 2023:
https://www.delfi.ee/leht/valimised2023/uudised
Postimees: Reitingud
https://www.postimees.ee/section/1724
Õhtuleht Teemalehed: Riigikogu Valimised
https://www.ohtuleht.ee/teemalehed/riigikogu-valimised
Estonia's pro-Kyiv government faces election test amid cost of living crisis
(Reuters)
“If, as opinion polls predict, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas' liberal Reform party wins the election and successfully crafts a coalition it would cement the Baltic nation's pro-European direction. Estonia would also stay on course to adopt more green energy and continue to accept refugees from Ukraine.”
—
“However, promises from the far-right EKRE party to slash energy bills by opposing the transition to green energy are proving popular in some parts of the country, as is a vow to shut the door to further Ukrainian refugees.”
“How does Estonia's Riigikogu electoral system work?” - ERR
“Estonia torn over Ukraine aid as elections loom.” - France24
“How to vote in the Estonian general election.” - Estonian World
“Your quick and easy guide to Estonia's general election.” - Euronews
“Ukraine’s Estonian ally Kaja Kallas faces reelection battle.” - Politico
“Kaja Kallas fights to keep her job as Estonia’s PM.” - Emerging Europe
____________
Friday 1. March 2023
Pilguheit minevikku: mida arvati riigikogu valimistest saja aasta eest?
(Novaator)
“Pühapäeval toimuvad riigikogu XV koosseisu valimised. Kuidas toimusid aga valimised 100 aastat tagasi, millised erakonnad osalesid ja kes jõudsid Eesti Vabariigi riigikogu II koosseisu?”
Estonia prime minister urges allies to stay united in face of Russian aggression
(Financial Times)
“Maintaining unity among western allies over Russia’s war against Ukraine is getting harder amid growing concern over signs of appeasement in some countries, Estonia’s prime minister has warned. Kaja Kallas, one of the most high-profile leaders from the Nato states that border Russia, said in an interview that “we definitely have to worry about” appeasement."
—
“We have been united so far, and that has been great,” she said. But, she added, “keeping unity is more and more difficult over time, because everybody wants this war to stop and there is a question about what [will] really stop it. If some think we will make this one last effort and then draw the line and [not] do anything else, this is definitely a worry.”
https://www.ft.com/content/5fdcf03c-5810-429b-8f90-3e5dc33f3b22
Ukrainian Refugees in Estonia
(Estonian World Review)
“A 2022 UNHCR survey of Ukrainian refugees found that 81% hope to return to Ukraine, 15% were undecided and only 4% held no hope of returning. Safety and security were the main reasons cited by most of the undecided or those with no hope of returning.”
—
“A critical need among refugee children from Ukraine is access to ongoing education. The City of Tallinn has responded by opening a new branch of a high school with 100 school places. Additionally, in cooperation with Kopli Vocational School, an adaptation program now offers alternative learning opportunities to students who have not yet entered the Estonian education system.”
https://www.eesti.ca/ukrainian-refugees-in-estonia/article60041
Interview: Estonian Foreign Minister
(Newsweek)
“Urmas Reinsalu told Newsweek that the NATO alliance cannot ignore Kyiv's accession ambitions—which he said remains the "elephant in the room"—while Russian revanchism poses a threat to Ukraine.”
—
“National leaders and NATO officials have defended the alliance's "open door" policy, refusing Russian demands to exclude Ukraine and repeatedly assuring Kyiv that it will one day be welcomed into the transatlantic bloc, though stressing accession should be a long-term goal.”
https://www.newsweek.com/only-nato-nukes-can-save-ukraine-russia-urmas-reinsalu-1785023
Russian tanks were intended for invasion of NATO countries, including Estonia
(New Voice of Ukraine)
“We are aware of the fact that the Russian tanks, which are currently burning in Ukraine, were intended for a large-scale invasion of NATO countries, including Estonia,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in an interview with Voice of America on 2. March.”
First RAF Typhoon Lands In Estonia To Join German Detachment
(The Aviationist)
“British and German Eurofighters are integrating to carry out joint QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) service in the Baltic region.”
Lithuanians traveling to Belarus are at risk of being recruited
(LRT)
“According to the Lithuanian intelligence agency, Belarusian intelligence and security services have stepped up their activities, which has increased the threats and risks for Lithuanian citizens visiting Belarus.”
—
“Recently, the majority of recruitment and espionage cases have been instances of intelligence from the territory,” meaning that people were recruited by intelligence bodies on the territory of Belarus or Russia.”
Interview: Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.” - Lithuanian Tribune
Latvian Police chief promises 99.99% of police officers are loyal to their country
(BNN)
“Chief of Latvian State Police Armands Ruks stressed during a meeting of Saeima’s Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee.”
Thursday 2. March
NATO: Finland forges ahead of Sweden toward membership - Jens Stoltenberg approves split application
(Deutsche Welle)
“Unanimous approval has turned out not to be a foregone conclusion, despite enormous optimism at the beginning of the process. Hungary is still lagging but the real problems started when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan put the brakes on the two countries' bids, primarily due to their perceived tolerance for Kurdish groups he considers enemies. But it's really Sweden he's focused on.”
—
“A deal between the three countries at the NATO summit in Madrid to work out their differences hasn't resolved things between Stockholm and Ankara. The officially-designated Kurdish terrorist organization, the PKK, has amped up its visibility in demonstrations where activists have targeted Erdogan personally. Separately, a far-right extremist burned a Koran, stoking Ankara's animosity toward the Swedish government.”
—
"We do not have, relatively, a major problem with respect to Finland, but we are always underlining that Sweden should take concrete steps,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last month.”
https://www.dw.com/en/nato-finland-forges-ahead-of-sweden-toward-membership/a-64849214
“Finland edges closer to joining NATO.” - France24
“Opinion: Finland wants to join NATO. But it may have to ditch an old friend to do so.” - CNN
Finnish Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of NATO membership
(Yle | RFERL | Guardian | Helsinki Times)
“… by a vote of 184–7 on Wednesday afternoon. Seven MPs were absent while one abstained. The result was similar to the vote in favour of Finland’s membership application last May, which passed by a vote of 188–8.”
—
“Despite the delay in approval from Turkey and Hungary, Parliament decided to finalise its part before the end of its legislative term, scheduled for 29 March, and elections in early April.”
—
https://www.rferl.org/a/finland-passes-nato-bill-large-majority/32294673.html
—
—
Finland has begun constructing a 200km fence on its border with Russia
(BBC)
“The Border Guard said it will be 3m (10ft) tall with barbed wire on top.
Finland shares the longest European Union border with Russia, at 1,340km (832 miles). At present, Finland's borders are secured primarily by light wooden fences. Finland decided to build the fence due to a rise in Russians seeking to escape conscription to fight in Ukraine.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64802457
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán plays spoilsport on NATO accession for Finland, Sweden
(Politico Europe)
“Hungary’s ratification process will finally begin on Wednesday, with a debate due to kick off in the parliament in Budapest ahead of a vote — expected in the second half of March. But already, there are signs of trouble ahead.”
—
“Máté Kocsis, head of Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party caucus in parliament, said last week that a “serious debate” had now emerged over the accession of the two countries. Hungary now plans to send a delegation to Sweden and Finland to examine “political disputes” that have arisen. Orbán himself echoed such views.”
—
“The Hungarian leader, who has an iron grip on his Fidesz party, said in an interview on Friday that “while we support Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO in principle, we first need to have some serious discussions.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-viktor-orban-play-spoilsport-nato-accession-finland-sweden/
“Hungary links Nato vote and EU money in quid pro quo.” - EU Observer
“Orban hesitates to approve Finland and Sweden’s bid to NATO.” - BNN
Little Mermaid in Denmark vandalised with colours of Russian flag
(The Guardian | AP)
“Copenhagen police open investigation into statue’s defacement seen as support for Moscow in war in Ukraine. … The statue has been tagged and painted many times, most recently in 2020.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/02/little-mermaid-denmark-vandalised-colours-russian-flag
—
“Taani Väikese merineitsi kujule määriti Vene lipu värvid.” - Postimees
Wednesday 1. March
Analüüs: metsas on tegelikult 100 miljonit tihumeetrit puitu vähem
Ûlle Harju
(Postimees)
“Seda 100 miljonit lisatihumeetrit pole Eesti metsades kunagi olemas olnudki,” tõdes Lembit Maamets, kes juhtis Postimehe Fondi toel aastail 2022–2023 läbi viidud projekti ‘Eesti metsade alternatiivne hindamine’. … Ministeerium esitleb jätkuvalt eksitavat statistikat.”
https://www.postimees.ee/7722308/analuus-metsas-on-tegelikult-100-miljonit-tihumeetrit-puitu-vahem
Neli punkti Euroopa julgeoleku kindlustamiseks
Indrek Kannik
(Diplomaatia, 23. veebruar)
“Venemaa soov oli muuta NATO idatiib ning Soome ja Rootsi puhvertsooniks, kellele liitlaste sõjaline kaitse ei laiene. Demokraatlik maailm peab seisma üheselt Ukraina selja taga ning valmistuma Venemaa maksimaalseks isoleerimiseks, sest ainult nii saame kindlustada kogu Euroopa julgeoleku.”
https://diplomaatia.ee/indrek-kannik-neli-punkti-euroopa-julgeoleku-kindlustamiseks/
Russia abandons deceptively deep Baltic discounted prices for Asian market prices
(BNE)
“The discounts Russia is being forced to offer on its oil exports after a comprehensive embargo and oil price cap scheme was imposed on crude on December 5, and oil products on February 5, are deceptively big. Nearly half of Russia’s oil exports used to go to Europe, shipped through the Baltic Sea. That trade has almost stopped now. But Russia is still exporting as much oil as it used to but sending it half way around the planet to new customers in Asia. The problem is the deep headline discounts of up to 50% or more are based on Baltic prices, whereas economists say Asian customers pay much smaller discounts, or none at all.”
- Putin’s Forever War -
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment - 1st & 2nd March
(ISW)
“The Kremlin accused Ukraine of conducting a border incursion in Bryansk Oblast, Russia on March 2 — a claim that Ukrainian officials denied.”
—
“The Bryansk incident generated speculation by Russian officials and ultranationalist groups about the Kremlin’s response to the situation. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on questions regarding any change of the “special military operation” status to “war” because of the incident.”
—
“Russian occupation officials denied reports of the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russian territories.”
—
“Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces continued to make serious mistakes and advance tank columns into Ukrainian ambushes in the recent three-week Russian offensive near Vuhledar, which Ukrainian sources characterized as the largest tank battle of the war to date. NYT reported that Russian forces lost at least 130 tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) during the three-week offensive, forcing them to resort in the last week to frontal infantry attacks.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-2-2023
—
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-1-2023
Kremlin funded at least 20 torture centers for Ukrainians in Kherson
(The Hill)
“The report from a Mobile Justice Team, which was formed as part of multilateral initiative of the State Department, European Union and United Kingdom to provide advice to Ukraine’s investigators, revealed Thursday that Ukrainian war crime inspectors found a direct link between torture chambers in Kherson and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government.”
Ukrainian Innovation in War of Attrition
(CSIS)
“Russia suffered more combat deaths in Ukraine in the first year of the war than in all of its wars since World War II combined, according to a new CSIS analysis of the force disposition and military operations of Russian and Ukrainian units.”
Interview: Sociologist Grigory Yudin
(Meduza)
“… the war is now forever. It has no goals that can be achieved and lead to its end. It continues simply because [in Putin’s imagination], they are enemies and they want to kill us, and we want to kill them. For Putin, it’s an existential clash with an enemy set on destroying him. There should be no illusions: while Putin is in the Kremlin, the war will not end. It will only expand.”
—
… it’s obviously impossible for Putin to win. No one has set any goal [for the war] or offered any definition of victory.”
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/02/25/russia-ends-nowhere-they-say
“Putin, Not NATO, is ‘Transforming Russia into Muscovy’.” - Paul Goble
“Putin's Own Vodka Brand Netted Him $500 Million.” - The Moscow Times
“In the Donbas, Russia's vast numbers of troops weigh heavily on Ukraine's defenders.” - NPR
Ukrainian drones near Moscow
(Novaya Gazeta)
“Russia’s territory suffered the most intensive Ukrainian drone attack on 27 and 28 February since the start of the war. Ukraine’s UAVs hit a petroleum depot in Tuapse, crashed in the Belgorod region, and reached Adygea (a Russian region in the North Caucasus). It is suggested that the drones forced Russia to close the airspace over St. Petersburg. Moreover, another Ukrainian drone crashed 100 km away from Moscow, and explosions were reported near an airfield in Yeysk late at night on 28 February.”
—
“Russia’s territory has been attacked by drones and projectiles over 350 times as of February 2023.”
Russia’s Theft of Children in Ukraine Is Genocide
(Foreign Policy)
“Mounted with genocidal intent, pursued with determined genocidal effort, the war is an assault not only on Ukrainians and Ukrainian nationhood, but the idea of Ukrainian-ness itself.”
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/01/russia-theft-children-kidnapping-ukraine-genocide/
Putin’s favorite neighbor, Belarus, is caving in to the Kremlin
(The Daily Beast)
“Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s delicate balancing act between Vladimir Putin and the West seems to have reached tipping point.”
“Lukašenka hoiab akna lahti, ajamaks poliitvangidega äri.” - Postimees
“Belarus’s Disappearing Flexibility for Geopolitical Maneuver.” - Jamestown
“Lukashenko arrives in Beijing as concerns rise around China-Russia relations.” - The Hill
“Belarus Leader 'Fully' Supports China's Ukraine Plan.” - Moscow Times
“China, Belarus call for 'soonest possible' peace in Ukraine.” - DW
“Ukraine to build a mined strip on its borders with Russia and Belarus.” - Meduza
Russia’s leverage in Moldova
(Riddle)
“Since Russia’s Ukraine invasion began in February 2022, Moldova’s security has been under extra strain. … The harsh reality is that Moldova now has multiple crises on its hands. Fuelling its political implosion are a legacy of poor governance and low living standards, compounded by supply chains severed by war. … it should come as no surprise that Moldova is easy collateral damage.”
https://ridl.io/russia-s-leverage-in-moldova/
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