Construction of anti-tank ditches has begun in southeastern Estonia, which will be part of the Baltic States’ defense zone.
The project is expected to cost 4.4 million euros this year alone, and until the end of the year, 28 bunkers and ten storage areas are expected to be built. “Dragon teeth” will also be deployed.
The defense zone is being created by the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) together with the Defense Investment Center (RKIK). Armin Siilivask, project manager for the Baltic Defense Zone at RKIK, told the program “Aktuaalne kaamera” that four kilometers of anti-tank ditches were currently being dug. The locations of the 28 bunkers are also being coordinated, and they are planned to be completed until autumn.
A large part of Estonia’s border with Russia is water, but in the southeast the border crosses dense forests, and it is there, according to the needs and analysis of the EDF, that the digging of anti-tank ditches is taking place. The border has already undergone significant changes in recent years, fences have been built and observation posts have been placed, and the anti-tank ditches will also facilitate border surveillance in peacetime.
Romet Niilus, head of the Piusa border guard station, said: “This is not a simple roadside ditch but rather a deep trench. Its purpose is to delay and to buy time so we can respond to an incident.”
The anti-tank obstacles are being built on both state and private land. Siilivask pointed out that currently the ditches were being dug on land owned by the Ministry of the Interior, while planning for other stages was still in progress, and after its completion it would be known how many municipalities and private landowners needed to be involved. He added that there were three options – the land could be bought back from private owners, it could be leased or a plot of land would be offered in another location.
Lieutenant Colonel Ainar Afanasjev, commander of the Estonian Defence Forces’ engineering unit, said that the anti-tank ditches would make the enemy stop and slow down their movement. They will also make the invader an easy target for the weapons of the Estonian forces.
The experience of Ukraine is also being taken into account when creating obstacles. (BNN)