Construction of anti-tank ditches has begun in southeastern Estonia, which will be part of the Baltic States’ defense zone, Estonian media outlet ERR News reports.
The project is expected to cost 4.4 million euros this year alone, and by 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 are currently being dug. The locations of the 28 bunkers are also being coordinated, and they are planned to be completed by 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 are being dug on land owned by the Ministry of the Interior, while planning for other stages is still in progress, and after its completion it will be known how many municipalities and private landowners need to be involved. He added that there are three options – the land can be bought back from private owners; it can be leased or a plot of land will be offered in another location.
Lieutenant Colonel Ainar Afanasjev, commander of the Estonian Defence Forces’ engineering unit, said that the anti-tank ditches will 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.
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