By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TALLINN, Estonia – Estonia is working to build up its military support in order to further defer Russia from invading like it did in Ukraine. Unlike with Ukraine, however, Estonia is receiving some help.

United States heavy military equipment of the First Brigade of the First Cavalry Division has arrived today in Tapa, Estonia. This military equipment, according to the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces, includes nine US Strykers, eight Bradley fighting vehicles, and other US military equipment. This will all be used over the next three months in military drills.

In addition to the United States’s recent additions, three prior Strykers were delivered in September. The United States will also be splitting 600 servicemen from the First Brigade of the First Cavalry Division of the US Army between the Baltic states and Poland, and will be replacing the paratroopers of 173d Airborne Brigade with these new troops. Estonia has also reportedly purchased 44 Dutch 193 CV9035NL IFV’s.

Estonia is also receiving help from home, as recruitment in the volunteer unit has doubled in comparison to last year. The Estonian Defense League (“Kaitseliit”) has around 14,500 members in its fighting units, compared to around 3,800 in the professional military.

Along with more recruiting, Estonia has also combated the Russian aggressor by arresting former KGB officers alleged to have crossed into Estonian territory. Mihhail Suhoshin, 64, and Alexander Ladur, 54, are being detained on charges of resisting arrest and illegally entering Estonia. It appears that the men “may have been merely fishing,” according to Kalev Stoicescu, a research fellow and Russia expert at the Tallinn based International Centre for Defence Studies.

Lithuania and Germany have also sought to help another east European nation against Russia. Germany will be sending 200 peacekeepers, including 50 paratroopers, to Ukraine. This marks the first time German troops are being deployed to Ukraine since the Nazi invasion of the then-Soviet territory. Lithuania also plans to increase monetary aid to Ukraine, along with convincing other nations to do the same. The reason behind all of this increased aid to Ukraine is the increased fighting near Donetsk over control of an airport, along with general fighting increasing in eastern Ukraine.

Russian aggression this year has caused many problems throughout Eastern Europe, and Russia has often been the nation playing offense and making the moves. Now the border countries are not only increasing their own defenses, but finally receiving significant help from other allies against Russia.

For more information, please see:

Ria Novosti – US Armored Vehicles Arrive in Estonia for Drills – 5 October 2014

Ria Novosti – US Armoured Vehicles to Arrive in Estonia – 4 October 2014

Mail Online – Germans set to send first troops to Ukraine since WW2 – 4 October 2014

News.com.au – Lithuania puts forward plan to provide defence fund for Ukraine – 3 October 2014

The Guardian – Estonia arrests former KGB officers – 3 October 2014

The Wall Street Journal – Alarm Over Russia Draws Volunteers to Defend Estonia – 2 October 2014

IHS Jane’s 360 – Estonia to buy Dutch CV90s – 2 October 2014