Estonian defmin in Ukraine: War has not left Kyiv

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Defense Kalle Laanet who visited Ukraine on Thursday said that the missile attacks against Kyiv on the same evening show that the war is still ongoing in the entire country.

A missile attack took place against Kyiv on Thursday evening with two missiles hitting civilian objects. Spokespeople for the Estonian Ministry of Defense said that the minister and a delegation were in Kyiv at the time of the attack but none of them were injured.

Laanet met in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov and his two deputies and the leadership of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. The minister also visited the destroyed cities of Bucha, Irpin and Berdyanka.

"The forces of the Russian Federation have killed civilians without any reason and left behind destroyed settlements. The intense battles in eastern and southern Ukraine are extremely critical for both Ukraine and the West. We call on our allies to put their words into action to help Ukraine win this war and rebuild the country," Laanet said.

"I informed Defense Minister Reznikov that Estonia is ready to supply Ukraine with additional heavy weapons and provide training for Ukrainian defense personnel on the use of western weaponry," he added.

The two states' defense ministers also discussed at the meeting the ongoing battles in eastern Ukraine, importance of strategic communication, situation in Belarus, the latest developments in Transnistria and Moldova and further need for assistance for Ukraine.

At a meeting with the leaders of Berdyanka, Bucha and Irpin, Laanet was told about the suffering of the local people. The minister also visited the Antonov Airport near Hostomel, a northwestern suburb of Kyiv, which was the target of attacks by the Russian Federation for an entire month. Do date, all of these areas have been taken back from the Russian forces.

The defense minister's delegation also included Estonia's defense attache in Ukraine Col. Vahur Murulaid who has been in Kyiv since the start of the war with deputy defense attache Lt. Col Andris Sprivul.

Ukraine is not just fighting for the dependence of its state but also for the security of Europe. For Estonia, it is crucial to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine to help it win the war and not let the Russian Federation achieve its strategic goals. Estonia was one of the first states to start supporting Ukraine with military aid.

Estonia has given 230 million euros' worth of military aid to Ukraine to date, including Javelin antitank missiles, 122-mm howitzers, antitank mines, small arms, ammunition, vehicles, fuel, communications equipment, medical supplies, personal protective equipment and food parcels. In cooperation with Germany, Estonia has donated to Ukraine a field hospital and medical supplies worth altogether almost 10 million euros.