Estonia trained 600 Ukrainian infantry soldiers – defense minister

Estonia has trained three companies of Ukrainian soldies since the beginning of russia's full-scale war.

The defense minister Hanno Pevkur says this during an interview with The Kyiv Independent.

"We trained 600 Ukrainian infantry soldiers. We have given training to one company at a time, three times. On top of that, there are medics, sharpshooters, and some more. I can't tell you more precisely." Pevkur said.

The defense minister says the russian army has not changed in 100 years. 

"During the First World War and the Second World War, they used the same tactics, which are unimaginable atrocities and war crimes. They are raping kids, they are killing civilians.

So in that sense, nothing has changed in the russian war system. And on the other hand, of course, we see that heavy artillery and long fire are still much needed. When we thought that whatever the new war would be, like a high-tech war, it's not. It's still a heavy artillery fight" the minister noted.

Pevkur states russia is a threat to NATO as an alliance.

"We have to understand that when the front door is open, then everybody is vulnerable inside the house. When the front door is locked, then everybody can feel safe inside the house. So this is why we have to keep the front door of NATO protected."

This war will end when the Ukrainians get their victory. 

"Of course, every war, at one moment, needs a solution on the diplomatic level. But at the moment, Ukrainians are fighting for their land, for their sovereignty, and as long as they haven't taken back their land, I believe there is no option to talk about the end of the war.

So, of course, we all hope that this war will be over as soon as possible. But we all have to understand also that it is not so easy because both sides have dug deep into trenches, and it might take some time." Pevkur added.

The Estonian government on Thursday supported the proposal of Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur to send another package of military aid to Ukraine, this time consisting of sniper weapons and equipment for special forces.