Estonia to Move Troops to Russian Border Under “Active Defense” Strategy

Estonia is moving some of its troops closer to the Russian border as part of a new “active defense” strategy.

The Financial Times reports that the main units of Estonia’s 1st Infantry Brigade, the country’s main combat force, will be permanently stationed in Jõhvi instead of Tapa.

Jõhvi is located about 50 km from the Russian border, while Tapa is approximately 130 km away.

To accommodate the troops in Jõhvi, Estonia is building new military facilities. The country is also constructing a military base in Narva that will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 troops.

Around 200 troops are expected to be stationed there in peacetime, with up to 800 more deployed in the event of war.

The changes are part of a broader review by Estonia’s Ministry of Defense of its military strategy, as the country shifts to an “active defense” concept introduced in May 2026.

The concept calls for defending the country directly from the border and attempting to stop an enemy at the earliest stage of an attack. As part of this approach, Estonia is acquiring modern weapons and long-range artillery, including HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems.

Militarnyi previously reported that, after four months of training, Estonian troops carried out their first live-fire exercises using the country’s own HIMARS rocket systems.

Structure of the Estonian Defense Forces

The wartime structure of the Estonian Defense Forces includes more than 43,000 positions. About 4,200 are assigned to active-duty personnel, while the rest are reservists and members of the Estonian Defense League (Kaitseliit).

As of 2026, the Estonian Division forms the core of the land component of the Estonian Defense Forces. It is the country’s largest land formation, reports directly to the Commander of the Defense Forces, and is integrated into NATO’s command structure.

The division includes the 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades, a headquarters and signals battalion, an ISTAR reconnaissance battalion, and artillery, engineering, and logistics battalions.

The division’s main maneuver unit remains the 1st Infantry Brigade. It comprises the Scouts Battalion, the Kalev and Viru infantry battalions, an air defense battalion, a combat support battalion, headquarters and signals companies, and an anti-tank company.

The brigade also trains conscripts, who are later transferred to the reserve.

The 2nd Infantry Brigade is primarily responsible for the southeastern part of the country. In peacetime, it consists of a headquarters in Tartu, the Kuperjanov Battalion in Võru, a combat support battalion, and a support and communications company. In wartime, the brigade is expanded with reserve units.

In addition to the division, the Estonian Defense Forces include the Cyber Command, Support Command, Military Police, Special Operations Forces, and other units.