Three military exercises are taking place on territory of Baltic states

Jörmungandr 24 and Iron Woolf 2024-2 international exercises, and the Sibul paramilitary exercise are taking place in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

The Ministry of Defense of Estonia, Delfi and ERR publications reported on this.

Jörmungandr 24

It is reported that the exercise started on September 26 and will last until October 9 at a training ground near the Latvian city of Skrunda, which allows for battalion-level training. The Ministry of Defense of Estonia emphasizes that there are currently no such training grounds in Estonia.

As previously reported, Estonia is actively building a training infrastructure for its army, and in September it was reported that it planned to spend €500 million on this process in 2025-2028.

“First of all, the exercise gives us the opportunity to practice combat operations at the company level in a populated area using infantry fighting vehicles. We will train defense and offense, using the most realistic training equipment and situations,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ranno Raudsik, commander of the Estonian reconnaissance battalion.

In addition to the reconnaissance battalion, the units of the Defense League, the Defense Academy, the General Staff of the Defense Forces, the combat support battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade and other units of the Estonian Defense Forces are taking part in the exercise, which will play a supporting role.

Iron Woolf 2024-2

The Iron Woolf 2024-2 exercise began on October 7 and will last until October 17. It will take place at the Silvestras Žukauskas training ground.

More than 3,200 Lithuanian and allied military personnel and 700 pieces of military equipment will take part in the exercise.

In addition to the Lithuanian military, the soldiers from Belgium, the Czech Republic, the United States, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany had been involved involved.

On October 7-10, military equipment will be moving through the roads of Jonavos, Ukmergės, Kėdainių, Elektrėnai, Vilniaus, Nemenčinė and Švenčionių districts.

Training equipment will also be used.

Sibul

From October 7 to 13, the Estonian Defence League (voluntary national defense organization of the Republic of Estonia) Sibul training will take place in South Estonia, in which all regional structures of the organization will take part.

“The main aim is to practice performing wartime tasks by the land defense units in the most realistic conditions. The main activities of the units are related to the defensive actions: creating combat positions and various barriers, preparing places for ambush, protecting and manning checkpoints and roadblocks,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Raul Kutt, head of the southern district of the Estonian Defence League.

In addition to the members of the Estonian Defence League, the training will be attended by the Army reservists who will undergo retraining in weapons handling and shooting skills.

The exercise will mainly affect the parishes of Elva, Tõrva, Otepää, Valga, Viljandi, Mulgi and Põhja-Sakala.