The Estonian General Staff announced the start of military exercises on May 5 near the borders with the Russian Federation.

On Friday, May 2, the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces announced the start of the Siil 2025 international military exercises near the borders with Russia.

The General Staff said in a statement that the exercises will last from May 5 to May 23. As part of this year's exercises, special attention will be paid to the deployment of additional allied units to Estonia, as well as the reception and integration of these units into the Estonian division.

"On Monday, units of the Estonian and Allied Defense forces will gather for the Siil 2025 joint international exercises, which will last until May 23. The main focus of the exercises is on working out the fulfillment of key tasks of the Estonian and regional defense plans in cooperation with the allies, as well as checking the combat readiness of the defense forces, the Kaitselijt and allied units," the statement said.

The main Siil 2025 combat training events will take place at training grounds located in the northeast and southeast of Estonia, mainly at the central training ground of the Estonian Defense Forces, the Nursipalu training ground and their surroundings.

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Earlier, on April 30, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin announced the holding of NATO exercises near the country's borders. According to the minister, NATO countries, in the form of various kinds of pseudo-defensive exercises, are forming an "armored fist" under the guise of strengthening the protection of Europe, aimed not at protecting territories.