Younger Estonians use English words and phrases frequently and intensely
Paper by Helin Kask, via Euekalert
“Intense contact with English has raised alarms throughout society regarding the longevity of the Estonian language. The doctoral thesis showed that younger generations borrow (copy) English vocabulary with high frequency and intensity. However, core vocabulary is never borrowed (words such as mother or bread), instead words with specific meanings find their way into vocabularies (such as highlighter and giveaway).”
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/erc-ygu050621.php
“Ivo Linna: kõige rohkem ohustame eesti keelt me ise.” - Pealinn
COVID cases in the Baltics
- 383 in Estonia
- 1,036 in Latvia
- 1,244 in Lithuania
(BNN)
“Koroonaviiruse andmestik.” - Eesti Terviseamet
“FAQs: Coronavirus vaccinations in Estonia.” - ERR
“Karjakülas nakatus koroonaga 22 topeltvaktsineeritud hooldatavat.” - Postimees
“Finland's vaccination pace slows as second Covid jabs begin.” - Yle
“Esmaspäevast ei pea Eestis liikumist piirama kümnest Euroopa riigist saabujad.” - ERR
“Close to a million vaccine doses may arrive in Estonia by end of June.” - ERR
“Nearly half of Europeans unhappy with EU's COVID measures.” - Euronews
“US shift on patent waiver for coronavirus vaccines embarrasses Europe.” - Politico
“EU ‘ready to discuss’ COVID vaccine patent waiver as drugmakers push back.” - Reuters
— Friday 7. May —
Täna öösel hüppavad Nurmsi lennuvälja kohal taevast alla 800 USA eriväelast
(Delfi)
“Dessantüksuse põhiosa saabub Eestisse otse pärast pikka lendu Ameerika Ühendriikidest, Põhja-Carolinast. Õhudessant viiakse läbi öisel ajal reaalsele taktikalisele olukorrale võimalikult lähedastes tingimustes.”
Paratroopers with 82nd Airborne fly non-stop for a ‘forcible entry’ jump into Estonia tonight
(Army Times)
“The jump is one of three brigade-size jumps over the next several days in which a total of 7,000 paratroopers from the United States and 10 other nations will conduct a joint forcible entry exercise at each of the landing sites in Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania. The exercise, known as Swift Response, is part of a larger umbrella exercise called Defender Europe 2021.”
—
“After they land, the paratroopers will rally with their respective units, collect their gear, which includes air-dropped vehicles, artillery and supplies, then conduct an assault against Estonian soldiers acting as an opposition force.”
“82nd Airborne paratroopers get fully vaccinated ahead of Baltic jump.” - Stars and Stripes
“‘Fires Shock’ series of artillery exercises kicks off in Estonia.” - U.S. Army
“DEFENDER-Europe 21 activities will take place in Estonia throughout May 2021.” - ERR
Getting U.S. Special Forces Ready For Great-Power Competition
(War on the Rocks)
“U.S. Special Forces was originally created to support indigenous resistance in areas overrun by communism. … In this scenario, Special Forces A-teams were to remain behind or insert into Soviet-occupied areas and create, support, and operate with anti-communist resistance groups.”
—
“For example, the Baltic countries have invested in a Total Defense model, which emphasizes a whole-of-society commitment to impose costs on would-be Russian occupiers through guerrilla warfare aided by support from allied and partner forces including, in this case, operators from the U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). An enhanced role for Special Forces would contribute to deterring Russia at a far lower cost than other alternatives, like increasing the size of the Baltic states’ defense forces or forward deploying up to seven U.S. and NATO brigades on a permanent basis.”
Building and Enabling Urban Resistance Networks In Small Countries
(Small Wars Journal - 11. April)
“A Crucial Role For U.S. Special Forces In Great Power Competitions. … Why building resistance networks before, not during a conflict.”
Eestis langes sünnihetkel oodatav eluiga 2020. a. meeste ja naiste seas 0,4 aastat
(ERR)
“Oodatava eluea langus läänes oli 2020 suurim alates teisest maailmasõjast.”
Venemaa lennuk rikkus taas Eesti õhupiiri
(ERR)
“Reede hommikul sisenes Vaindloo saare piirkonnas ilma loata Eesti õhuruumi Venemaa Föderatsiooni lennuk IL96, mis viibis Eesti õhuruumis alla minuti.”
https://www.err.ee/1608205336/venemaa-lennuk-rikkus-taas-eesti-ohupiiri
“Russian aircraft violates Estonian air space for second time.” - ERR
Eesti lugu: Moskva õiguskaitsjate mõju vabadusvõitlusele Eestis
(Vikerraadio)
“Vabadusvõitleja Viktor Niitsoo: "Moskva õiguskaitsja Aleksander (Sergei poeg) Jessenin-Volpini õpetus oli meie käsiraamat." 1972. aastal riigist välja saadetud Jessenin-Volpin õpetas, et võime tuleb sundida käituma nii, nagu seadused ette näevad, mitte nii nagu, võimud seadusi näevad.”
Finland and Estonia link on transport projects
(ITS International)
“Finland and Estonia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to exchange information in order to promote large-scale transport projects. These projects include the Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel, Rail Baltica, Trans-European Transport Networks and North Sea-Baltic Sea core network corridor.”
https://www.itsinternational.com/its7/its8/news/finland-and-estonia-link-transport-projects
“Tallinn-Stockholm ferry may not reopen until 2022.” - ERR
— Thursday 6. May —
Arvamus: Käigud Soome ja Eesti vahel – tuhandete püsieluviis
(Postimees, 30. aprill)
“Viimase 30 aastaga on kõige enam ehk umbes 60,000 eestlast kolinud Soome, mille rahvastikuregistri andmetel elab seal alaliselt umbes 51,000 Eesti kodanikku, kellele lisandub umbes 9,000 Soome kodakondsuse võtnud eestlast. Paljud neist on Eestiga endiselt tihedalt seotud. … Eurostati hinnangul käib Soomes lühiajaliselt tööl suurusjärgus 9,000 eestlast, kelle kodu ja pere on Eestis. Mobiilpositsioneerimise andmete põhjal veedab ligikaudu 23,000 Eesti elanikku vähemalt veerandi aastast välisriigis, sh Soomes umbes 20,000.”
Failing To Train: Conventional Forces In Irregular Warfare - a Narva scenario
By James W. Derleth, Modern War Institute
The author shows how this plausible scenario could occur: “… (March 2023) a group of demonstrators gathered in the town square of Narva, a town in eastern Estonia on the border with Russia. Protesting that their human rights had been violated, the demonstrators demanded autonomy for Narva, official status for the Russian language, and Estonian citizenship. When Estonian police moved in to break up the demonstration, they were confronted by an armed group of Russian-speaking, military-age men. Fearing the loss of innocent lives, the police left the area. At the same time, a group of armed demonstrators attacked the Estonian border post, forcing it to be abandoned. A third group of demonstrators took over the local telecommunications center, cutting internet, radio, and telephone links to and from Narva. They then stormed the town hall, forcing the mayor to resign.”
—
“While deliberations over the identity of the demonstrators continued, the United States agreed to deploy the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) to Estonia. Its mission was to support Estonian security forces and regain Estonian territorial integrity and sovereignty. … but before 2CR reached its area of operations Russia controlled key infrastructure, limited 2CR’s ability to communicate with Estonian security forces and its own formations, established information dominance, and created local and international opposition to its presence. The lack of military education and training in irregular warfare prevented 2CR from predicting and preparing for these tactics. …”
https://mwi.usma.edu/failing-to-train-conventional-forces-in-irregular-warfare/
Estonian, UK, and French troops are preparing for Spring Storm exercises
(ERR)
“Outgoing NATO eFP commander: We stand side by side – and fully integrated.”
“Venemaa lennuk rikkus Eesti õhupiiri.” - Postimees
“APS-2 equipment, vehicles issued to Estonia for DEFENDER-Europe 21.” - US Army
“Raketiheitjate lahinglaskmised andsid avalöögi õppusele Swift Response.” - ERR
“Head of NATO's Multinational Division North visits Estonia's infantry brigades.” - The Baltic Times
The ‘Resistance Operating Concept’
(Swedish Defense University - PDF)
[Page 155: Forest Brothers - WW2 And Post WW2 Baltic Resistance To Soviet Occupation.”]
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1392106/FULLTEXT01.pdf
EU Opens 'Military Mobility' Project To NATO Allies US, Canada, and Norway
(RFERL)
“The European Union has approved the participation of NATO members the United States, Canada, and Norway in a project aimed at speeding up the movement of troops and military equipment around Europe. … The bloc has since earmarked 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) from its joint budget until 2028 to improve so-called military mobility, something NATO deems as crucial in the event of a conflict with Russia.”
—
“Beyond border red tape, the smooth deployment of forces whether by land, sea, or air is also often hindered by ill-adapted infrastructure.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-eu-nato-allies-military-mobility-borrell-stoltenberg/31241378.html
“NATO Secretary General discusses military mobility.” - NATO
“Military mobility: Infrastructure for the defence of Europe.” - European Parliament
“New progress on military mobility in the EU.” - Railway Pro
“U.S. among first foreign countries to join EU defense project.” - Reuters
“Pentagon pushes to partake in EU military mobility planning.” - Defense News
“Action Plan on military mobility: EU takes steps towards a Defence Union.” - European Commission
“Defender-Europe 21 Exercise Tests Ability to Move Military Might Overseas.” - Seapower Magazine
Ukraine: Putin Failed to Achieve His Three Goals Because He’s Not Ready to Launch a Major War, Polish Analyst Says
By Paul Goble, Window on Eurasia
“First of all, Putin wanted to use his actions as a test of the new US president and to find out whether Joe Biden would support Ukraine or cave. Washington didn’t cave.
—
Second, Putin wanted to force Kyiv to agree to the Steinmeyer plan for elections in the Donbass. … And because his bluff didn’t work and the Americans didn’t back down, Kyiv continues to refuse to consider such an arrangement, a second defeat for the Kremlin in this round …”
—
“And third, Putin had as his goal the sowing of fear and panic among Ukrainians … But buoyed by Western support, the Ukrainians organized to resist so that Putin and his associates would know that any invasion would cost him dearly.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/05/putin-failed-to-achieve-his-three-goals.html
“Russia keeping 80,000 troops at Ukraine border amid NATO exercise.” - The Hill
“'We look to Russia to stop its dangerous and aggressive actions’.” - Euronews
“Biden administration officials: Sustained deployment is a message from Moscow that it could match NATO troops taking part in maneuvers.” - New York Times
“In Kyiv, Blinken Shows a New Face for the U.S.” - Foreign Policy Magazine
Being Finnish: A Guide For Soviet Spies in the 1950s/1960s
(RFERL)
“An archived booklet reveals how communist spooks were instructed to blend in with Finnish locals, with careful advice on the behavior, clothing, and table manners of Finns.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/a-guide-for-acting-finnish-for-soviet-spies-of-the-cold-war/30827524.html
— Wednesday 5. May —
Ants Laaneots: Kaitsekulusid tahab kärpida viies kolonn
(Postimees)
“Kui endine sõjaväelane ja kaitseväe juhataja vaatan seda muidugi negatiivselt. Me leppisime ju kokku, et kui sellel aastal on kaitse-eelarve 645,5 miljonit eurot, siis meie koalitsiooni otsus oli algselt, et järgmise aasta kaitse-eelarve peab olema üle 700 miljoni euro. Nüüd käivad mingid mängud, koalitsioon on kõva surve all. Meie tsiviilne pool võitleb igasuguste suurte ehitiste eest, millel ei ole puutumust riigikaitse ega julgeolekuga. Sellest ma praegu aru ei saa, miks on vaja Tallinnas ja mujal just nüüd selliseid suuri objekte ehitada. …”
https://www.postimees.ee/7241216/ants-laaneots-kaitsekulusid-tahab-karpida-viies-kolonn
“Isamaa calls on Estonian defmin to explain cuts in national defense spending.” - Baltic Times
“Russia includes Baltic states in its list of 'unfriendly nations’.” - Baltic Times
“We cannot ignore attempts to redraw borders of sovereign states.” - Baltic Times
Kaljulaid emphasizes importance of free media in Estonia's development
(ERR)
“The current face of Estonia, together with all the laugh and worry lines, has been shaped by the Estonian people themselves. … But it would definitely not have been possible for the state and society to undergo such development in 30 years if we had not had a free, independent and strong press.”
“Seriously Under Threat: Press Freedom Around The World.” - RFERL
Eesti õhuruumi saabusid turvama Itaalia õhuväe hävitajad F-35
(Eesti Kaitsevägi)
“Eestis õhuturbemissiooni alustav Itaalia 13. lennugrupi (13 Gruppo – Nucleo Tattiche) kodubaasiks on Amendola lennubaas. Ämarisse saabunud hävitajad on lennubaasis valves ööpäevaringselt, sooritavad vajadusel tuvastuslende ja teevad regulaarselt treeninglende. … Ämarisse saabunud varghävitajate F-35 näol on tegemist inimkonna ajaloo kõige kallima relvasüsteemiga, mis suudab täita nii hävitus-, luurelennuki kui taktikalise pommitaja ülesandeid.”
https://mil.ee/uudised/eestisse-ohuruumi-saabusid-turvama-itaalia-ohuvae-havitajad-f-35/
“Italian Air Force deploys four F-35A stealth fighters to Estonia.” - Aviationist
Biden’s Russia Policy After 100 Days
By Maximilian Hess, Riddle
“The Biden Administration’s return to the democracy agenda has received much attention, but with regards to Russia’s ‘near abroad,’ it appears to be limited to Ukraine, at least thus far. …”
https://www.ridl.io/en/biden-s-russia-policy-after-100-days/
“A New Sanctions Strategy to Contain Putin’s Russia.” - Foreign Policy
“US will go ‘beyond mere statements’ to support Ukraine sovereignty.” - PRI
Prisoners tell horror stories of their detention in Belarus
(Politico)
“The most grievous thing is how easily people can be arbitrarily detained, and how easily the courts imprison them,” said Nikolai Kozlov, a 54-year-old former police lieutenant colonel who became an opposition politician a decade ago. He was freed in April after spending 15 days in prison and described horrendous conditions. Kozlov was locked up in the Okrestina jail in Minsk, which became notorious after multiple incidents of torture and humiliation of protesters were reported there.”
—
“Today, the staff there aren’t keeping it a secret that they have orders to create unbearable conditions for everyone arrested on political reasons,” said Kozlov, a former envoy of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Lukashenko’s main rival during last year’s election.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-prisons-violence-alexander-lukashenko/
“Belarusians file 'state torture' case against Lukashenko in Germany.” - Euronews
“Why wearing the wrong socks is risky in Belarus.” - BBC
— Russia —
Moskvas valmistutakse 9. mai võidupüha paraadiks
(Postimees)
“Lääne sõjaajaloolaste sõnul peetakse Venemaal silmas vaid sõda, milles võitles Nõukogude Liidu armee Saksa armee vastu. … Venemaal ei arvata suure isamaasõja hulka Nõukogude Liidu 1939. aasta kallaletungi Soomele (talvesõda) ega Baltimaade, Bessarabia (tänapäeva Moldova ja Ukraina alal) ning Põhja-Bukoviina (Rumeenia põhja- ja Ukraina lääneosas) okupeerimist 1940. aastal. …”
https://www.elu24.ee/7242578/moskvas-valmistutakse-9-mai-voidupuha-paraadiks
Russia has Already Lost Ideological War in Kaliningrad to a ‘Western Blitzkrieg’
By Paul Goble
“Andrey Vypolzov of Sovershenno Sekretno says the situation in Kaliningrad shows Moscow has already lost the ideological battle there … The ideological war against Russia has been going on in Kaliningrad for the last 30 years, the commentator says. It is “a partisan war,” but one in which those who should be fighting against it have been left “without bullets, without connections to the Big Land, and with only faith in Victory” and the hope that Moscow will send some help soon. …”
—
“Western brainwashing is changing the mentality of Russians in Kaliningrad, with the result that Russia is losing them and may eventually lose their territory as well.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/05/russia-has-already-lost-ideological-war.html
The Great Turn in Putin’s Post-Post-Modern Authoritarianism
By Mark Galeotti, Moscow Times
“There is no way of escaping the realization that a major policy shift has taken place in Russia. A regime that for twenty years sought to be an exemplar of a kind of “hybrid authoritarianism,” seems to be seeking to get back to basics. … So this could be called post-post-authoritarianism — or maybe just plain, old-fashioned authoritarianism.”
—
“Of course, there is still room for hyperbole. Those who are making parallels with Stalin’s “Great Terror” minimize the horrors of that era and misrepresent the current crackdown. This is still not totalitarianism, with its desperate and despotic hopes of controlling not just what people do, but what they think. It is also still being deployed with a degree of finesse and control. Putin’s generation of siloviki are, after all, Andropov’s children. As the cerebral and coldly analytical head of the KGB between 1967 and 1982, Yuri Andropov ushered in a new style of repression, one of “minimum effort for maximum effect,” in which psychiatric incarcerations, forced emigration and “prophylactic chats” largely replaced the mass actions of the past.”
—
“It is still repression and authoritarianism …”
With Putin’s Latest Crackdown,
Russia Is Going Dark
By Alexey Kovalev, Foreign Policy Magazine
“There is a palpable sense of foreboding. It’s become clear by now that things will get significantly worse. The Kremlin has clearly signaled that it will no longer tolerate even token opposition or the hint of any threat to its rule. We’ve seen that no matter how peaceful the protests are, there will be police violence and mass arrests. Gone are the days when a top official whose corrupt dealings were exposed by independent journalists would be quietly demoted—after first being promoted or given an award so as not to create an impression the Kremlin could be pressured. Today, instead, a riot squad will be breaking down an editor’s door to confiscate all the journalist’s equipment and notes. … The bravest of reporters have families terrified after almost daily news of arrests and searches.”
Journalist Ilya Azar shares a timeline of last month’s crackdown across Russia
(Meduza)
“A chronicle of repression.”
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/05/04/a-chronicle-of-repression
“Получился очень-очень-очень длинный список.” - Meduza
“Жестокий Петербург. Кто и как обеспечивает Северной столице лидерство по задержаниям.” - Novaya Gazeta
“Why did the Russian authorities designate Meduza as a ‘foreign agent’.” - Meduza
“Grassroots Repression, Russian-style.” - The Moscow Times
“In Russia, Conscription Is a Weapon for Silencing Dissent.” - Moscow Times
Bellingcat: Skripalide mürgitajad said Kremlilt ametikõrgendust
(Postimees)
“Endise Vene spiooni Sergei Skripali ja tema tütre Julia tapmiskatsega seotud Vene sõjaväeluure (GRU) liikmed Aleksandr Miškin ja Anatoli Tšepiga said Bellingcati ajakirjaniku Hristo Grozevi sõnul Kremlilt uued töökohad, kuna nende kuulsus ei lase neil enam GRUs töötada.”
Danish pumps supply water to Crimea despite European Union sanctions
(Deutsche Welle)
“Prior to annexation, water came from the Dnieper River via a canal. But Ukrainian authorities blocked access following Russia's annexation. … To improve the water supply in the city of Simferopol, the Beshterek-Zuysky waterworks were constructed to tap an artesian aquifer. … 7 Grundfos CR 185-8 A-F-A-V-HQQV pumps were installed.”
https://www.dw.com/en/danish-pumps-supply-water-to-crimea-despite-eu-sanctions/a-57435401
“Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order”
Book Review, Russia Matters
“An assessment of Russia’s new strength.”
Russia’s censorship agency seeks new fines for Twitter, Google, and Facebook
(Meduza)
“Russia’s censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, has filed for new proceedings against the three tech giants, sending Russian courts six protocols against Twitter, five protocols against Google, and five against Facebook.”
“Putin Enacts Fines for Sharing Unlabeled ‘Foreign Agent’ Media Reports.” - Moscow Times
“Russian authorities are trying to kill Riga-based Meduza.” - Meduza
“Kremlin bears down on Moscow bureau of RFE/RL radio station.” - The Guardian
“Seriously Under Threat: Press Freedom Around The World.” - RFERL
Ban on putting USSR, Nazi Germany on same footing submitted to State Duma
(Kremlin via TASS)
“… it is prohibited to equate the purposes, decisions and actions by the leadership of the USSR, the command and military personnel of the USSR and the decisions and actions of the leadership of Nazi Germany, the command and military personnel of Nazi Germany and countries of the ‘Axis’, as well as to deny the decisive role of the Soviet people in defeating Nazi Germany or the humanitarian mission of the USSR in liberating the countries of Europe," the bill runs.”
https://tass.com/politics/1286677
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