Narva alert to the threat by Moscow in its mayoral election
By Daniel Boffey
The Guardian
“Narva, closer to St Petersburg than the Estonian capital, Tallinn, is complex: 98% of its population is Russian speaking and, while not a homogenous group, international news can be perceived quite differently here, as it is in other such communities in Latvia and Lithuania.”
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“For some it is consumed through the prism of Russian TV, banned in Estonia but easily accessible at this proximity to the country. The Kremlin has denied the breach of Estonian airspace ever happened – the “Nazis” in Tallinn, 210km west of Narva, were doing what the “global war party” does. Others in Narva see such claims on Russia’s TV stations as fake news but worry about poking the Russian bear. Estonian troops are welcome perhaps, they say, but not foreign Nato soldiers.”
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“The candidates in the TV debate generally accepted that the military base was a done deal but criticised the communication of it, saying it had sparked concerns within the city of 53,000 people rather than a sense of assurance. …”
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“The Estonian security services keep a watchful eye on Narva,.” said Igor Taro, Estonia’s interior minister.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/27/estonia-city-mayoral-election-moscow-threat
Inside Europe's crash effort to create a 'drone wall’
using Estonia’s tech industry
By Patrick Tucker
Defense One
“As Russian drone incursions across Europe spike, the European Union committed Wednesday to one of the most ambitious multi-nation defense projects in history: a Europe-wide “drone wall.”
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“Envisioned as a network of new sensors, artificial intelligence software, jammers, cheap missiles, and more to thwart small-drone attacks, the concept is still in its infancy. But dozens of Estonian defense tech startups gave Defense One a glimpse of how autonomous vehicles, inexpensive short-range missiles, hunter drones and AI concepts are laying the groundwork to defeat drone swarms. And nearly all of them highlighted work with Ukrainian front-line commanders as part of their development process.”
“Estonia Lands Two Slots in NATO’s Fast-Track Defense Tech Program.”
The Defense Post
“Lithuanian president says first stage of ‘drone wall’ could be ready by 2028.”
LRT
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Secret Soviet factory in Estonia offered luxury perks at a deadly cost
ERR
“In the heart of Narva, tucked behind the hum of city life, lay a Soviet-era secret: the Baltijets military factory, unmarked on maps. Workers sometimes sipped cognac with their coffee, lounged to soft music during work breaks and were given nice apartments and sanatorium vacations. But these luxuries came with a deadly catch: they were handling uranium on the job.”
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“Founded in 1947, the massive complex operated under the modest moniker Mailbox No. 2.”
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"During the Soviet era, around 4,000 people worked here," said Boriss Medvežnikov, events curator at Narva Museum. The factory even had its own railway station and depot.”
https://news.err.ee/1609817982/secret-soviet-factory-in-estonia-offered-luxury-perks-at-deadly-cost
Number of people in Estonia renouncing Russian citizenship increases
ERR
“According to data from the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, while only 107 people were registered as renouncing their Russian citizenship in Estonia in 2024, as of August 25, 2025, there were already 126 cases recorded.”
https://news.err.ee/1609817337/number-of-people-in-estonia-renouncing-russian-citizenship-increases
Tartu meeriks pürgiv Vahur Kraft ei vabane mineviku luukeredest
Postimees
“See on absoluutselt tõestatud, et tänu Vahur Krafti tegevusele varastati ära 32 miljonit dollarit. Sellise minevikuga inimesed ei tohiks pürgida sellistele kohtadele,’ põrutab ajakirjanik Toomas Kümmel, kel on raske mõista, miks Parempoolsed otsustasid Vahur Kraftist teha Tartus oma linnapeakandidaadi. ‘Ma ei usaldaks talle jäätiseraha ka!”
Putin lubas «Euroopa militariseerimisele» märkimisväärset vastust
Postimees
“Me jälgime tähelepanelikult Euroopa kasvavat militariseerimist,» ütles ta SotÅ¡is toimuval välispoliitikafoorumil. «Venemaa vastumeetmed ei võta kaua. Vastus sellistele ohtudele tuleb väga märkimisväärne.”
https://maailm.postimees.ee/8335544/putin-lubas-euroopa-militariseerimisele-markimisvaarset-vastust
False Alarms and Real Ones
By Edward Lucas
CEPA
“A Russian land grab in Estonia in 2028 would destroy NATO, argues the newly published, best-selling, and widely reviewed “If Russia Wins” by Professor Carlo Masala. But the opening scenario is wrong.”
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“If Masala is looking for a pushover, he should not have chosen well-armed, battle-ready Estonia, whose citizens, more than most other Europeans, are willing to fight for their freedom. It is similarly lazy to assume that Russia and Belarus could easily close the land-bridge between Poland and Lithuania, the SuwaÅ‚ki-Alytus corridor, or simply annex the “Russian-speaking” eastern Latvian city of Daugavpils.”
—
“Instead, Masala should focus on complacent, dislocated countries farther west.”
https://cepa.org/article/false-alarms-and-real-ones/
Building shelters is now a must, and air alert siren tests are to become routine
Postimees
“The Baltic states have agreed to accept each other's refugees in the event of war.”
—
“In case of a drone threat, go to the nearest indoor space and stay away from windows.”
Kas Kreml soovis tegelikult oma sõjalennukit Eesti õhuruumis kaotada?
Arvamus: Erkki Koort
Postimees
"Venemaa lennukite lendamine Eesti õhuruumis kandis eneses kahtlemata provokatsiooni hõngu. Seekord otsustati surmavat jõudu mitte kasutada. Kui Venemaa mõte oli tõesti provotseerida oma lennuki allatulistamine, näeme sellist käitumist peagi uuesti."
Should NATO shoot down Russian jets?
By Mariana Lastovyria
Counteroffensive
“… The decision to shoot a plane down could not be made by Estonia alone — it would require authorization by other allied countries. Niko Orell, an ex-pilot and senior military officer of the Finnish Air Force, explained that it’s hard to tell whether an incursion into airspace is deliberate or a navigation error.”
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“That’s why, from a military perspective, there are three stages before shooting down drones or aircraft: identification, a warning shot, and, finally, a shootdown if there is a direct threat.”
https://www.counteroffensive.news/p/should-nato-shoot-down-russian-jets
“Shooting down Russian jets would have been a strategic mistake, says EDF chief.”
ERR
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“Poliitikute hinnangul on keeruline ennustada Tallinna valimistulemusi.”
ERR
“Drone part found on Estonian coast amid Nordic military airspace breaches.”
Helsinki Times
“Secretary General Rutte and Estonian PM Michal disagree over Article 4 consultation requests.”
Fox News
“Kaitsevägi tahab lisaõigusi ohu tõrjumiseks väljapool enda territooriumi.”
ERR
“Sweden’s Social Democrats say yes to sending prisoners to Estonia.”
Radio Sweden
“Saab, ST Engineering Pitch Littoral Mission Vessel to Estonia.”
The Defense Post
“Twelve British soldiers injured in car crash in Estonia.” MSN
“Estonia urges citizens to avoid travel to Belarus.”
RBC
“Estonia still lacks laboratory facilities needed for testing explosives.”
ERR
“Cattle farmers in western Estonia struggling with 'catastrophic' wolf attacks.”
ERR
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Around the Baltic Sea
Finnish court drops Eagle S cable damage case over lack of jurisdiction
Helsinki Times
“Helsinki District Court has ruled that it lacks the authority to hear criminal charges against the captain and crew of the Eagle S oil tanker over the destruction of undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland. The decision brings an end to criminal proceedings in Finland related to an incident that caused extensive economic damage when five submarine cables were severed on 25 December 2024.”
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“The Eagle S, which is registered in the Cook Islands and is associated with Russia’s shadow fleet, was travelling from Ust-Luga to the Mediterranean when its anchor dragged along the seabed for nearly 90 kilometres within Finland’s exclusive economic zone.”
European leaders met in a high-security Danish summit after drone disruption
BBC
“EU leaders have met in Copenhagen under pressure to boost European defence after a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, and days after drones targeted Danish airports. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters that "from a European perspective there is only one country... willing to threaten us and that is Russia, and therefore we need a very strong answer back”.”
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“The incursions have become most acute for countries on the EU's eastern flank such as Poland and Estonia. A number of member states have already backed plans for a multi-layered "drone wall" to quickly detect, then track and destroy Russian drones.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8jdene16ro
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"Latvian state websites attacked on Thursday; operations were restored.”
LSM
“Putin ordered the conscription of 135,000 men by the end of 2025.”
The Moscow News
“Russia's clear warning that it can easily chip away at Europe's defences.”
Sky News
“Norras Venemaa piiri lähedal kadunud sõdurid leiti tervena üles."
ERR
“'Drone wall': Can Europe shield itself from Russian threats?”
France24
“Estonia warns of Putin distraction tactics as EU leaders meet to discuss ‘drone wall’.”
The Guardian
“Estonia PM says Russia incursions aim to distract EU from Ukraine.”
France24
United24
“What Is Europe’s ‘Drone Wall’?”
The New York Times
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Putin’s Forever War
Putin's regime has put his country on its knees
Opinion by Andrey Kuzichkin
Postimees
“Putin has definitively subdued Russian society.”
https://news.postimees.ee/8333148/andrey-kuzichkin-putin-s-regime-has-put-the-country-on-its-knees
Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Russian Oil Refinery, Chemical Plant
The Moscow Times
“Both Orsknefteorgsintez and Azot are located roughly 1,500 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.”
Russia launches largest strike on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure
Meduza
“… since start of full-scale war, inflicting ‘critical’ damage. … 35 missiles — including ballistic ones — and 60 drones were launched at facilities in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Poltava regions. Only some were shot down. Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky said a significant number of facilities were damaged in the attack, with some of the destruction “critical.” He stressed that the strike had no military purpose.”
Ukraine’s Plan to Starve the Russian War Machine
By Anne Applebaum
The Atlantic
“Once almost entirely dependent on imports of weapons from abroad, the Ukrainians are now producing millions of drones, large and small, as well as other kinds of weapons, every year. They are using them most famously on the front line, where they have prevented the Russians from making large-scale gains this year, despite dire headlines, and where they have ensured that any territory occupied by the Russians comes at a terrible price, in equipment and lives. The Ukrainians have also used sea drones to clear their Black Sea coast of Russian ships, an accomplishment that seemed impossible even to imagine at the start of the war.”
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“Finally, they are using drones to hit distant targets, deep inside Russia, and lately they are hitting so many military objects, refineries, and pipelines that some Ukrainians believe they can do enough damage to force the Russians to end the war. …”
Ukraine: People ‘Think’ They Know What War Is
By Alisa Sopova
The Guardian
“Most people think they know what war is. We’ve seen it thousands of times in movies and news coverage: tanks, soldiers, explosions, crying women, pitiable refugees. These images are so familiar they’ve become trite. But most of the time, war does not look like this. Most of the time, it seems too normal, too much like peace to catch the eye of journalists and film-makers. Often, only a tiny detail – tape in the shape of a cross on a window, or an unusual emptiness in the street – reveals that something is off. Yet, this seeming normality of the abnormal, this integration of horror and the mundane, is what tells the truest story of war.“
Video Documentary
The Guardian (8:23 length)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch2eArHFm8c
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