Estonia Postponed Construction of Bunkers on Border with Russia for More than a Quarter

Despite its plans, Estonia has not started building bunkers on the border with Russia on time, and the construction of the first of them has been postponed for more than a quarter.

This is evidenced by the news of the ERR outlet.

According to journalists, work on the installation of bunkers in the Estonian border areas will begin in the coming weeks.

Although previously it was planned to create the first stronghold of 14 bunkers in the northeast of the country by the fall of this year.

The construction is part of the Baltic Defense Belt, and now this work is being pushed back by about a year – the entire complex of works is planned to be completed by the end of 2027.

“The installation of protective structures in the natural landscape was supposed to be launched at the beginning of this year, but the timing has been shifted, although the target remains the same – 600 bunkers,” the statement said.

According to the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment, the first contracts have already been signed, and the first five facilities will be installed in the ground in December.

The Estonian Defense Forces said that these bunkers are designed primarily to protect soldiers from direct hits by 152 mm artillery shells.

Artillery systems of this caliber are used by the Russian army, which is currently seen as a potential aggressor in the region.

The chain of fortifications will include not only bunkers, but also anti-tank barriers and firing positions. Some elements of defense infrastructure will be installed only in times of crisis.

The construction of fortifications will be carried out mainly on state land, but private land will also be used.

In light of security threats, Estonians will dig a 40-kilometer-long anti-tank ditch along the Estonian-Russian border over the next two years.