Estonia thwarts Russian hybrid operation
(Politico Europe | BNN | CNN)
“… that resulted in damage to property and desecration of monuments, including attacks on the cars of Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets and news website Delfi editor Andrei Shumakov. … State prosecutor Triinu Olev announced that ten people have been detained, including both Russian citizens and citizens with dual Russian and Estonian citizenship; six remain in custody. The Russian operation was aimed at creating fear and tension in Estonian society, but it failed, said the Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS).”
https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-thwarts-russian-hybrid-operation-arrests-10/
—
https://bnn-news.com/estonia-prevents-russian-hybrid-operation-detains-ten-people-254387
—
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/europe/russia-shadow-war-attack-estonia-kallas-intl/index.html
“Estonia detains 10 people suspected of committing sabotage on orders from Russia.” - AP
“Russian special services behind attack on Estonian minister's car.” - ERR
“Russian hybrid operations rising in Estonia and Moldova.” - Defense One
Vene piirivalve küsib suhtumist Ukraina sõtta, kaitsepolitsei soovitab ankeeti mitte täita
(Postimees)
“Politsei- ja piirivalveameti andmetel vaatavad Vene piirivalvurid läbi Eestist Venemaale läinud piiriületajate telefone ja sülearvuteid, piirivalve juht Veiko Kommusaar soovitab selliseid seadmeid enam mitte kasutada ja need hävitada.”
—
“Venemaa piirivalve on osa Venemaa Föderaalsest Julgeolekuteenistusest (FSB), kelle eesmärk on lisaks tavapärasele piiriületajate kontrollimisele koguda piiriületajate kohta ning nende käest erinevat infot, et kallutada neid kaastööle või kasutada kogutud teadmisi mõnel muul moel oma õõnestustegevuseks.”
—
“Politsei- ja piirivalveamet soovitab kõik seadmed, mille Venemaa piirivalve on ühendanud oma arvutitega, kohe hävitada, sest pole teada, mida nendega ühenduse loomise ajal täpselt tehtud on. «Uues seadmes tuleks esimese asjana muuta ära kõik paroolid,» lisas Kommusaar.”
“Venemaa nõuab topeltkodakondsusega piiriületajatelt kinnitust sõja toetamise kohta.” - ERR
“FSB uurib Eesti-Vene piiril inimeste meelsust EL-i suhtes.” - ERR
Russian border guards / FSB examine phones and laptops of border crossers
(Translated from Postimees)
“The head of Estonia’s border guard, Veiko Kommusaar, recommends not to use such devices anymore and to destroy them. “The Russian border guard is a part of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), whose purpose, in addition to the usual checking of border crossers, is to collect information about border crossers for their own subversive activities," Kommusaar said.”
—
“The Police and Border Guard recommends to immediately destroy all devices that the Russian Border Guard has connected to their computers, as it is not known what exactly was done when they were connected. The first thing you should do on a (replacement) device is change all passwords.”
Russian FSB reportedly asking travelers crossing Estonian border about their attitudes toward E.U.
(Meduza)
“… and to fill out a form answering personal information and questions about attitudes to the war in Ukraine. The form also requires travelers to indicate if they have any relatives living in Russia or Ukraine, connections with special service employees, names of people they know fighting on the side of Ukraine, and their “attitude toward the actions of the European Union leadership, which supports the nationalist regime in Ukraine.”
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EstoNews on-line:
https://estonewsoftheweek.blogspot.com/
EstoNews Dropbox archive:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1kvd04gtar6ty2b/AADCUK2J_RXcMyIYf_sjnAwoa?dl=0
Covered Bridge Photo:
https://paranull.blogspot.com/2022/02/jaruska-sild.html
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Friday 23. February
Vabariigi 106. aastapäev 🇪🇪
(Postimees)
“Mida 24. veebruaril teha?”
https://www.postimees.ee/7965995/ulevaade-mida-24-veebruaril-teha
—
https://www.postimees.ee/7966225/kaart-vabariigi-aastapaeva-paraad-toob-tallinna-liiklusse-muudatusi
—
https://parnu.postimees.ee/7966533/galerii-vihmasadu-iseseisvuse-tahistamist-ei-heidutanud
—
https://tv.postimees.ee/7965470/ev-106-kersti-kaljulaid-me-ei-tee-eestis-enam-oigeid-asju
“Flags to be hoisted on 106th anniversary of Republic of Estonia on Saturday.” - Baltic Times
Pätsi 150. sünniaastapäeva tähistamine Tallinna kesklinnas
(ERR)
“Tallinnas Estonia teatri taga tähistati reedel 150 aasta möödumist Eestsi riigivanema ja esimese presidendi Konstantin Pätsi sünnist. Pätsi mälestusmärgi juures ajaloolisel Uuel turul toimunud tseremoonial kõnelesid Tallinna linnajuhid ja teenis peapiiskop Urmas Viilma.”
https://www.err.ee/1609262649/galerii-patsi-150-sunniaastapaeva-tahistamine-tallinna-kesklinnas
I Guard the Narva Border
By Kätlin Liiva, Newsweek
“I joined the team of the border guard station of the city of Narva in July 2022 to learn new skills and delve into the nuances of guarding the "green border" with Russia. I currently work there as a group leader. Our area of responsibility covers a 77-kilometre border section. I plan and coordinate the service, leading the teams to ensure constant surveillance of our border and compliance with the border regime requirements. … In our work, we are continually aware that across the Narva River, there is an unstable aggressor country that has always been interested in what we do. …”
https://www.newsweek.com/i-guard-russia-border-migration-attacks-nato-1871450
Bundeswehri juht: NATO suudaks tagasi tõrjuda Vene sissetungi Baltimaadesse
(ERR)
“NATO jõud suudaks tagasi tõrjuda Vene sissetungi Balti riikidesse, ütles Saksa kaitseväe ehk Bundeswehri juht kindral Carsten Breuer. Breuer andis intervjuu Briti väljaandele The Telegraph. Bundeswehri juht vastas jaatavalt ajakirjaniku küsimusele selle kohta, kas Balti riikidesse paigutatud NATO jõud suudavad Vene pealetungi tagasi tõrjuda.”
—
"Jah, mul pole selles kahtlust. Kuid ennekõike on see heidutuse küsimus. Lähtudes meie praegusest hinnangust, minu mure polegi seotud lähiajal Vene rünnakuga," vastas Breuer.”
Vene passi vahetamine Eesti passi vastu on Venemaa tõttu järjest keerulisem
(ERR)
“Viimastel aastatel on kasvanud mitte-eestlaste huvi vahetada oma Venemaa pass Eesti oma vastu. Venemaa aga veeretab passivahetusele ette aina uusi takistusi. Näiteks selgus hiljuti, et enam ei aktsepteerita politsei- ja piirivalveamet garantiikirja Eesti kodakondsuse taotlemise kohta.”
—
“Andrey Malashkin on püüdnud eelmise aasta algusest alates loobuda Venemaa kodakondsusest. Korra õnnestus tal pääseda Vene konsulaati vastuvõtule, kuid selleks ajaks oli üks dokument aegunud. Sügisel aga peatas Venemaa loobumistaotluste vastu võtmise hoopiski. Hiljuti kuulis mees, et Helsingis asuv konsulaat vist ikkagi võtab avaldusi vastu. "Ma küsisin Venemaa konsulaati Soomest, et mis võimalused mul on, kas ma saan seda teha läbi nende büroo ja ma sain vastuse, et kahjuks ma pean teadma, et nad ei aktsepteeri seda tõendit, mida annab Eesti politsei- ja piirivalveamet," lausus Malashkin.”
Eesti pole võtnud seisukohta, kas toetab NATO uue juhina Mark Ruttet
(ERR)
“Mark Rutte on peamine kandidaat järgmise NATO peasekretäri kohale. Talle on toetust avaldanud üle 20 liikmesriigi. Eesti pole veel Rutte toetamise osas seisukohta võtnud.”
https://www.err.ee/1609262652/eesti-pole-votnud-seisukohta-kas-toetab-nato-uue-juhina-mark-ruttet
“Pevkur: Mark Rutte on väga tugev kandidaat.” - ERR
Biden paves the way for Dutch PM Mark Rutte to lead NATO — and confront Putin
(Politico)
“Biden’s support is likely to sway more allies to get on board with Rutte’s nomination, after months of jockeying between him and several other European leaders for the job. … two-thirds of NATO countries are backing Rutte’s nomination to take over leadership of the military alliance later this year.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/21/biden-backs-dutch-pm-mark-rutte-for-top-nato-job-00142554
NB! - “Although Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas had expressed interest in the post of NATO leader, officials say she is not a candidate because she has not ‘put herself forward’. The same applies to Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, who also expressed interest last year.” - BNN
“NATO’s New Boss Should Come From the Eastern Flank.” - Carnegie
“Dutch PM Mark Rutte in pole position to be next NATO boss.” - Politico
“Can Mark Rutte save NATO?” - Politico Europe
Hungary: final barrier dropped for Sweden to join Nato
(The Guardian)
“After months of diplomatic wrangling, Ulf Kristersson travelled to the Hungarian capital on Friday at the invitation of the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, for the highly anticipated meeting. His visit came days before Hungary’s parliament was expected to vote in favour of Sweden’s Nato ratification when it returns from its winter break on Monday.”
“The Hungarian parliament is due to ratify Sweden's alliance membership on Monday.” - Politico
Why Russia Killed Navalny
By Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic
“Navalny is now presumed dead. The Russian prison system has said he collapsed after months of ill health. Perhaps he was murdered more directly, but the details don’t matter: The Russian state killed him. Putin killed him—because of his political success, because of his ability to reach people with the truth, and because of his talent for breaking through the fog of propaganda that now blinds his countrymen, and some of ours as well.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/navalny-death-russia-prison/677485/
“Parim vanglasüsteem, mis piinab ja mürgitab.” - Postimees
“Putin Fears Navalny Funeral Could Trigger Mass Demonstrations.” - RFERL
“How to Make Putin’s Life Impossible.” - CEPA
Thursday 22. February
Maamaks: rikkam rahvas muheleb, Tallinn kaotab üle poole miljoni
Ülle Harju, Postimees
“Kolmandik Eesti omavalitsustest on sunnitud tänavu leppima mullusest väiksema maamaksuga, kaotajate edetabelit juhtiv Tallinn jääb ilma enam kui poolest miljonist eurost. Ääremaal saavad aga paljud inimesed kraesse kahekordse maamaksu."
https://www.postimees.ee/7964253/maamaks-rikkam-rahvas-muheleb-tallinn-kaotab-ule-poole-miljoni
Jõulukuused Tallinna Raekoja platsilt kaovad pärast vabariigi aastapäeva
(ERR)
“Tallinna Kesklinna vanem Monika Haukanõmm ütles, et Tallinna Raekoja platsil olevad kuused viiakse ära pärast vabariigi aastapäeva tähistamist. Ta ütles ka, et möödunud pühade jõuluturul kurtsid kauplejad kõrgete rendihindade üle ja ebamugavusi tekitas pandipakendi süsteem, ent muutusi praegu plaanis pole.”
Russia will not intimidate me, Kallas says
(Reuters)
“Russian police placed her and several other Baltic politicians on a wanted list on Feb. 13 for destroying Soviet-era monuments.”
—
"It is meant to intimidate and make me refrain from the decisions that I would otherwise make," Kallas told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. "But it's Russia's playbook. It's nothing surprising and we are not afraid.”
—
“The Baltic politicians risk being arrested only if they cross the Russian border, otherwise declaring them wanted has no real consequences.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-will-not-intimidate-me-estonias-kallas-says-2024-02-18/
“Kremlin claims Estonia's Kallas placed on wanted list in response to 'hostile actions’.” - AP
Estonia's ‘weekend warriors’ urge Brits to get off the sofa and learn how to fight
(Sky News)
“Estonia's volunteer army has been growing since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. As NATO nations contemplate a potential future war, the message for those countries which could face Russia - including the UK - from the Estonians willing to fight is clear: wake up and train.”
Seize frozen Russian assets before US election, says Estonian PM
(Financial Times, 19. Feb.)
“… in a further sign of European concern at the impact a second Donald Trump presidency might have on the west’s policy on Russia and support for Ukraine.”
https://www.ft.com/content/19be9642-4ea7-4efe-bf71-10727282bfc5
NATO and EU cannot carry on like it’s peacetime
By President Alar Karis
(Politico Europe)
“The cultural DNA of a country that’s been hardwired to oppose the West won’t transform overnight. Preparing for war has been ingrained in the Russian mind. And those who think differently are either silenced, forced to leave, harassed, imprisoned or killed — as we have with great sadness again witnessed just recently.”
Lithuania to close two more border checkpoints with Belarus
(Meduza | Moscow Times)
“… leaving only the Medininkai and Salcininkai checkpoints open for vehicles.”
—
“Vilnius also plans to limit passengers from embarking and disembarking at railway checkpoints on the border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region and the border with Belarus.”
—
Opinion: Alexei Navalny’s murder demonstrates Putin’s confidence
By John Bolton, The Hill
“We may never know the actual causes of Navalny’s death. The most benign explanation is that it was hastened by the 2020 failed poisoning, compounded by years of harsh prison conditions. However, video of Navalny earlier last week showed him in apparent health and good spirits. No one really believes that “accidents” happen to high-profile prisoners in the Russian gulag. And the decision to eliminate such a prominent thorn in the Kremlin’s side would have to come from Putin himself.”
—
“Internationally, things look brighter for Putin than they have in several years, both geo-strategically and specifically in Ukraine. Navalny’s murder signals Putin is confident that he holds the upper hand. Trump continues threatening U.S. withdrawal from NATO, adding recently “I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want” to NATO members not meeting their commitments to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense.”
“Putin’s Murder of Navalny Gives Permission to Dictators Everywhere to Do Their Worst.” - Window on Eurasia
The Kremlin Feared Navalny in Life and Continues to Fear Him in Death
By Ksenia Kirillova, Jamestown Org.
“Navalny continually challenged the Kremlin, participated in protests, and attempted to run for office despite the Putin regime’s persecution due to his exposure of corruption, bold activism, and political aspirations. The Russian opposition figure remained resilient and worked against the Kremlin while in prison. His legacy stands as a symbol of resistance against dictatorship both within Russia and internationally.”
Part 2:
Alexei Navalny: Putin critic's mom 'given hours to agree secret burial'
(BBC | CBS News | Washington Post)
“Russian authorities have threatened to bury Alexey Navalny at the Arctic prison colony where he died if his family does not agree to a closed funeral, the opposition leader's team said Friday. … Authorities have since refused to hand his body over to his mother, who arrived at the prison colony in northern Siberia last Saturday."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68384402
—
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alexey-navalny-russia-mother-threatened-ultimatum-prison-burial/
—
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/22/navalny-body-secret-burial-yulia/
“Russian Investigators Threaten to Bury Navalny at Arctic Prison.” - The Moscow Times
“Navalny’s mother was allowed to see son’s body, says investigators trying to bury him in secret.” - Meduza
Who is Yulia Navalnaya,
Putin’s newest enemy?
(Politico Europe, 19. Feb)
“Three days after the Russian authorities declared the opposition politician had died in a prison north of the Arctic Circle, his wife Yulia Navalnaya on Monday said she would take up her husband’s mission to topple Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
—
“By killing Alexei, Putin killed half of me, half of my heart, and half of my soul. But I still have the other half, and it tells me that I have no right to give up,” she announced in a YouTube video. “I will continue Alexei Navalny’s cause.”
“Russia Issues Chilling Warnings to Navalny’s Widow.” - CEPA
“Yulia Navalnaya urges EU not to recognise Putin’s ‘fake elections’.” - Novaya Gazeta
“Yulia Navalnaya’s announcement that she will continue her husband’s work has reportedly electrified the Russian opposition.” - Novaya Gazeta
Wednesday 21. February
Estonian reservists train on short-range air defense system bought from Poland
(Baltic Times)
“The Piorun short-range, man-portable air defense system is one of the most successful weapon systems in the Ukrainian war.”
—
[Piorun is designed to destroy low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).]
The Long History of US Irritation at European NATO’s Freeloading
By Peter Huessy, - CEPA
“Two examples will suffice. Senator Mike Mansfield, the Senate Democrat majority leader, proposed in 1971 that half of all US forces in Europe — 150,000 — be unilaterally withdrawn. The Nixon administration opposed the Mansfield amendment, urging support for a resolution offered by Senator “Mac” Mathias of Maryland, “supporting the necessary level of US armed forces in Europe.”
—
“In June 1984, a similar proposal was put forward by Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) of the Armed Services Committee. It echoed previous legislation pushed by Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee.
Stevens wanted to significantly reduce American forces in Europe, noting that the two most notable post-World War II conflicts were in Korea and Vietnam, not Europe. Nunn’s proposal was to reduce US military forces in Europe unless the European NATO allies increased their contribution to NATO’s defense.”
https://cepa.org/article/the-long-history-of-us-irritation-at-european-natos-freeloading/
Is Russia preparing for war with NATO?
(Deutsche Welle)
“The Director General of Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service, Kaupo Rosin, says Russian military is bigger than before Ukraine war started.”
https://www.dw.com/en/is-russia-preparing-for-war-with-nato/video-68326761
The Baltic border loophole in EU's Russia sanctions
(Politico Europe)
“Customs officials in EU frontline states know that truckers are shipping banned goods into Russia — but they can’t do much about it.”
Munich Security
Conference
“The Munich Security Conference celebrated its 60th anniversary this year with its biggest-ever attendance. The halls were filled with the latest news in geopolitics, including upcoming election predictions, the lead-up to the NATO Summit in July, and somber updates from the Ukraine front.” - CEPA
“The eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka has fallen to Moscow's troops, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is dead and US military aid to Kyiv is waning.” - Barrons
“Ukraine Veterans Bloodied but Unbowed.” - CEPA
“Europe caught between Putin and Trump.” - Politico Europe
“Munich contemplates the ‘end of peaceful times’.” - Euractiv
“Europe Must Not Wait for US Action on Ukraine.” - CEPA
“As Putin Threatens, Despair and Hedging in Europe.” - NY Times
“Munich security talks marked by global 'lose-lose' anxiety.” - BBC
“There’s only Plan A: Defense leaders fear failure in Ukraine.” - Politico
“Estonian PM: Trump’s NATO Comments is a Wake-up Call.” - Breitbart
“Worrywurst At The Munich Security Conference.” - War on the Rocks
“West does not fully realize seriousness of challenge in Ukraine.” - Ukrinform
“Ukraine Could Lose the War. The U.S. and Europe Aren’t Doing Enough.” - The Moscow Times
Despair and Hedging in Europe
(New York Times)
“As the leaders of the West gathered in Munich … President Vladimir V. Putin had a message for them: Nothing they’ve done so far — sanctions, condemnation, attempted containment — would alter his intentions to disrupt the current world order. Russia made its first major gain in Ukraine in nearly a year, taking the ruined city of Avdiivka, at huge human cost to both sides, the bodies littered along the roads a warning, perhaps, of a new course in the two-year-old war. Aleksei A. Navalny’s suspicious death in a remote Arctic prison made ever clearer that Mr. Putin will tolerate no dissent as elections approach.”
Russia’s Forever War
Russian Offensive Campaign
Assessment: 20. Feb. 2024
(ISW)
“Russia’s grand strategic objective of regaining control of Ukraine has remained unchanged in the decade since its illegal intervention in Ukraine began.”
—
“Russia worked hard to obfuscate its grand strategic objectives of regaining control of Ukraine between 2014 and the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.”
—
“Russian military intelligence is reportedly learning from its failures in recent years and has renewed efforts against NATO states.”
—
“Ukrainian withdrawal from Avdiivka may have left hundreds of Ukrainian personnel “unaccounted” for.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-20-2024
“Ukraine weighs unpopular plan to expand the draft.” - AP
“Ukraine’s war strategy: Survive 2024 to win in 2025.” - Politico
“Ukraina tulistas alla veel ühe Venemaa haruldase lennuki A-50.” - ERR
“Russian Air Force Has Lost Another One Of Its Rare A-50 Radar Planes.” - Forbes
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia for 10 years
(ISW)
“Russia violated its commitments to respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and began its now decade-long military intervention in Ukraine on February 20, 2014 when Russian soldiers without identifying insignia (also known colloquially as “little green men” and, under international law, as illegal combatants), deployed to Crimea. The deployment of these Russian soldiers out of uniform followed months of protests in Ukraine against pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych for refusing to sign an association agreement with the European Union.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-20-2024
“Why the West is losing Ukraine.” - Politico Europe
“Ukraine’s Shock Will Last For Generations.” - The Atlantic
“Lithuania Diplomat: Some In The West Fear Ukraine's Victory.” - RFERL
Russia’s opposition died with Navalny
(Politico Europe | Washington Post)
“The sad truth is the absence of any serious mass opposition to Putin inside Russia — let alone to his war in Ukraine — speaks volumes.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/russias-opposition-died-with-navalny/
—
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/21/young-liberal-russians-alexei-navalny/
“The complex legacy of Alexei Navalny.” - Euronews
“Photos: The Remote Arctic Settlement Where Alexei Navalny Spent His Final Weeks.” - The Moscow Times
“Navalny Mourners Handed Military Summonses in St. Petersburg.”
“Navalny was Russia's highest-profile political prisoner. But there are more than 1,000 others.” - CBC
“Interview: Russian from Vilnius who was imprisoned in the same colony as Navalny.” - LRT
“Guards at prison where Navalny died allegedly tortured inmate to death in 2022.” - Novaya Gazeta
Russia’s criminal justice system has been weaponised as part of the war effort
(Novaya Gazeta)
“If the Russian authorities still felt their powers were limited by the constraints of the law when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, two years on they enjoy a free hand to crack down with astonishing severity on even the slightest sign of dissent. While in 2022 Russian courts convicted 22 people for making anti-war statements, that number rose seven times in 2023 to 144, according to Russian human rights non-profit OVD-Info. Figures published by the organisation show that criminal cases for something as minor as an anti-war post on social media now result in far more severe penalties than they did at the start of the war. …”
https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/02/21/war-and-punishment-en
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