The weekly SITREP (Situational Report) brings relevant events that happened in the Baltic region during the week that were either too small to be implemented in a full analysis or could not be published in full due to time restrictions. They nevertheless provide important background information concerning the Baltic Region.
General
- Russia’s agricultural sanctions against the EU have been hitting the Baltics the most. Losses in export varies around 30%;
- The Foreign Ministers of Finland and Sweden met in Stockholm on Wednesday, agreeing a united line on discussions with Russia. Despite suggestions from Moscow that talks on improving security might occur, the two countries remain cautious;
Denmark
- The Danish government said on Monday August 15th that it is ready to send a container vessel, a support ship and 200 staff personnel to rid Libya of chemical weapons;
Estonia
- Five wounded Ukrainian soldiers have arrived in Estonia for medical treatment. Estonia already treated 28 Ukrainian soldiers in the past year. Meanwhile Lithuania plans to give another 50 Ukrainian soldiers medical treatment later in the year.
Germany
- The Nord Stream pipeline, transporting natural gas from Russia to Germany, was shut down from August 9 to 17 for a planned maintenance.
- Construction has started today on the 385 MW Arkona offshore wind farm on the island of Rügen in the German Baltic Sea.
Russia
- A military exercise kicked off August 16 in the Pskov oblast, which borders Estonia and Latvia. About 5,000 Russian soldiers are taking part, along with about 1,000 from the other countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
- Gazprom decided to continue building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany. Earlier on the European contributors pulled out of the project after a negative ruling by Poland’s antimonopoly watchdog. Gazprom said in a statement that Nord Stream 2 will be built as long as Germany remains positive to the project.
- Anton Vaino has been appointed as Chief of the Presidential Administration – replacing Sergei Ivanov. Sergei Ivanov was a senior member in Putin’s inner circle, being Minister of Defence from 2001 to 2007. Sergei Ivanov also started several military reforms under the famed “Ivanov Doctrine” a doctrine laid the foundation of Russia’s Hybrid Warfare.
- Two armoured trains of Russia’s railway forces will be involved in a logistical exercise for the first time in almost 15 years, a source in the Russian Southern Military District’s Headquarters told TASS. The manoeuvres will take place near Volgograd in south Russia in mid-August, the source added.
- Flight-tactical exercises are currently taking place in Kaliningrad. These exercises are being completed by a mixed helicopter squadron of the naval aviation section of the Baltic Fleet.
Sweden
- Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with the Australian Defence Force to upgrade the Army’s RBS 70 ground-based air defence weapon system and Giraffe AMB radar.
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