Nearly 16,000 soldiers and eleven countries will take part in the Hedgehog 2022 military exercise. The war in Ukraine did not change the content of the exercise, but increased the number of countries wishing to join.
16.5. 06:10 • Updated May 16th. 06:12
TALLINN Sailor serving on the staff and support ship at Vambola Karl Robert Teder24, there are only a few spikes left in the comb.
Now, however, the mornings are not counted as repatriation, but at the beginning of a huge military exercise on an Estonian scale. In the Hedgehog Exercise 2022, different types of weapons from all branches of defense and both Estonian infantry brigades are on the move.
The area of operation is the whole country, although the focus areas are southern and south-eastern Estonia and the islands off the west coast of Estonia.
– I look forward to all the interesting tasks and supervised nights, Teder describes his feelings during the military exercise.
The events in Ukraine have influenced the thinking of the young man. His military service has coincided quite closely with the Russian war of aggression.
– Somehow it has been understood in a new way by the importance of military service. That this is really necessary. If something happens, my comrade-in-arms and I will be ready to defend Estonia, says Karl Robert Teder.
A department of 240 people from Finland is involved
The preparation for the major war exercise will take several years. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is therefore not the real cause of Hedgehog 2022. However, it has had an impact.
– Many countries have registered at the very last minute and a few may jump on the sledge during the exercise, says the Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, Major General Veiko-Vello Palm.
In addition to Estonians, about 4,000 soldiers from ten countries will take part in the exercise. Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States are included.
The strength of the Finnish department, which consists of reservists, conscripts and personnel, is about 240 people.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not changed the content of the exercise itself. According to Palm, the designers of the Hedgehog 2022 have already taken into account in advance the things that the fighting in Ukraine has shown to be necessary.
– These include leadership throughout Estonia, combining combat in different operating environments and the use of long-range fire, Palm, who is the leader of the exercise, lists.
Estonia and Latvia return to the war of independence
Hedgehog 2022 is the fourth major war exercise in Estonia. This time, however, is the largest in history. Combat exercises are conducted on land, sea, air and in a cyber environment.
– We coordinate and lead operations together with the Latvian command centers. The command of fire and troops is flexible across the border, Palm says.
Like Sailor Teder, Major General Palm also considers the motivation of Estonian conscripts to be high.
– The will to defend is strong and the attitude towards military service has been constantly improving. More than 60 percent of last July’s inaugural batch was already voluntary, Palm notes.
More than 7,000 Estonian reservists, 2,000 members of the regular staff and 2,600 conscripts will take part in the Hedgehog 2022 exercise.