Estonia is rolling out large-scale fortifications on its border with Russia — planning tens of kilometers of anti-tank ditches, hundreds of bunkers in the coming years, and considering a full border closure.
The outlet ERR reports construction has already begun. The first half-kilometer ditch was dug in the village of Vinski, near Meremäe in Võrumaa. Going forward, the fortifications will be built inside the barrier fence and reinforced with “dragon’s teeth” and barbed wire.
Lt. Col. Ainar Afanasyev, a representative of the Estonian Defence Forces’ General Staff, said natural barriers already exist in the country’s northeast — the Narva River and Lake Peipus — while the southeast requires additional engineering solutions. In that area, more than 40 kilometers of anti-tank ditches and about 600 bunkers are planned by the end of 2027; the bunkers will be positioned on-site or stored nearby.
Overall, the defensive belt will stretch 100 kilometers along the border and extend up to 40 kilometers deep into Estonian territory. According to Armin Siilivask, the project lead at the Center for Defense Investments (RKIK), two strongpoints are slated for this year - in northeastern and southeastern Estonia. Each will consist of several dozen bunkers, with nearby depots for materials that are already being moved from previous bases closer to future construction sites.
Work on the Baltic Defense Line officially starts with these projects. In the first phase, through 2025, plans call for about 4 kilometers of anti-tank ditches, 28 bunkers and 10 depots. All activities are being carried out jointly by the Defence Forces and RKIK.
While the Ministry of Defense notes there is no immediate military threat, Tallinn emphasizes the importance of early preparedness. Much of the construction is in forested terrain, where the ditches will serve both as obstacles to vehicles and as an element of additional surveillance. The goal is to deter a potential incursion, buy time to respond, and apply lessons learned from Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Earlier, it was reported that special barriers are being installed at the crossing between Ivangorod in Russia’s Leningrad region and Estonia’s Narva to quickly halt traffic if necessary.
On September 13, Russia deployed Iskander short-range ballistic missile launchers in the Kaliningrad region. Six NATO countries - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Germany - are within potential range.
