BansheeOne Posted June 27, 2022 Posted June 27, 2022 Related to NATO plans to build up its rapid reaction forces, the overall forces for Lithuania will allegedly be a mechanized division with two German and one Dutch brigade rotating through ten, 30 and 50 day readiness, plus an airmobile battlegroup. Two Luftwaffe squadrons and four air defense units would also be kept ready, plus frigates in the North and Baltic Sea.
BansheeOne Posted July 9, 2022 Posted July 9, 2022 I'd guess German from the Lithuanian and American from the Polish side, as now. Quote July 8, 2022 5:10 PM GMT+2 Last Updated 21 hours ago Russia warns Lithuania it could take 'harsh' measures over Kaliningrad transit Reuters July 8 (Reuters) - Russia warned Lithuania and the European Union on Friday that it could adopt "harsh measures" against them if the transit of some goods to and from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad did not resume. "If the situation does not stabilize in the coming days, then Russia will take harsh measures against Lithuania and the European Union," Maria Zakharova, spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry, said in a statement. "The issue has taken too long to resolve." Lithuania has banned the transit of goods subject to European Union sanctions across its territory to and from the Baltic exclave. Russia has pledged to retaliate. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-warns-lithuania-it-could-take-harsh-measures-over-kaliningrad-transit-2022-07-08/ Reportedly Germany is trying to get the EU Commission to declare the transit to Kaliningrad within pre-sanction limits exempt on the grounds that in the end it's deliveries within Russia. I hope that's at least aiming for a horse trade of "Kaliningrad will get coal as long as we get gas, until we're ready to call it quits"; but given the impression of either exaggerated fear of or residual sympathy for Russia within his party Olaf Scholz has been making, I'm not too sure. Incidentally, Russia cut gas deliveries to Germany to 40 percent of the normal four days before the new sanctions became effective. The cause is allegedly a turbine for Nord Stream 1 which underwent maintenance in Canada and had also been held back under local sanctions, but the reduction also affected the separate Megal pipeline, and Scholz has stated it's clearly a pretense. Still, his government has also been leaning on Canada's to release the turbine, and the latter has now reportedly agreed to notionally deliver it to Germany rather than Russia. I don't know if it's really all connected, but guess it's the clearest example yet of effects predicted when bad decisions were made 20 years ago.
BansheeOne Posted July 13, 2022 Posted July 13, 2022 Poland goes postal! Quote Ukraine conflict: Polish postal workers get training on use of weapons July 13, 2022 Favour Lashem A postal service spokesperson on Wednesday said postal workers in Poland are to be trained by soldiers to use weapons, against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. The spokesperson said an agreement with the Polish army’s Homeland Security (WOT) will be signed in August. A decree from the postal service’s board said the employees will learn safety rules for handling weapons and acquire “basic shooting skills” in the course. The training was aimed at improving Poland’s defence preparedness, the homeland security spokesman told the newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Polska. Poland’s postal service has about 70,000 employees. One thousand places have been earmarked for the first training session, with further offers to follow. Participation was voluntary. Graduates of the training have good chances of being accepted into the homeland security associations. Poland has been planning to increase the number of its armed forces for some time. For example, a voluntary basic military service was recently introduced. Currently, the Polish army has 110,000 soldiers, in addition to the 30,000 men and women in homeland security. There are plans to increase the number of personnel to 250,000 professional soldiers and 50,000 members of homeland security. (dpa/NAN) https://newsdiaryonline.com/ukraine-conflict-polish-postal-workers-get-training-on-use-of-weapons/
BansheeOne Posted July 14, 2022 Posted July 14, 2022 Also: Quote The Trials of Rzeszów A Polish Town Learns to Live with War on Its Doorstep Rzeszów in eastern Poland has become an outpost of the West, receiving refugees from Ukraine and operating as a hub for weapons transports from the EU and U.S. The city's mayor has his hands full. By Jan Puhl in Rzeszów, Poland 14.07.2022, 13.15 Uhr It’s going to be a quiet day, says the mayor, but what does that really mean when you govern a city that is located just 100 kilometers away from a war? A city like Rzeszów in eastern Poland, population 200,000. The town in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship is suddenly a front town, just as all of Poland sees itself as a nation on the frontlines ever since Russian forces rolled into Ukraine in late February. And Mayor Konrad Fijołek, like many in his country, seems both unsettled and galvanized. Fijołek grabs a glass of homemade grapefruit soda and a handful of nuts as he rushes out of his office for a visit to an industrial park, his first stop of the day. A prosperous citizen has made a building available for use by the city. It lies right behind the OBI DIY store, and a reception center run by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is moving in. As the guy from UNHCR reads through a longish speech about human rights, asylum, civic duty and aid, Fijołek shuffles from one foot to the other. He doesn’t have much time. Even if today is a quiet day, there is a lot to do. Rzeszów carries the proud title "City of Saviors," bestowed upon it by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In March, shortly after the invasion, the city took in around 100,000 refugees. "We didn’t have a camp," says Fijołek. "The Poles took in their neighbors with open arms." The refugees were put up in private homes or in hotels and pensions, some of the vast majority of refugees from Ukraine that Poland has taken in – with very little discussion. Around 30,000 of them are still in Rzeszów, making up more than 10 percent of the city’s population. There is no registration process and people from Ukraine are able to enter the EU without a visa. Only their passports are checked. Sometimes, a few head back to Ukraine, others stay for a short time before continuing westward. Still others come over a second time. As such, it is impossible to know the true number. Every now and then, City Hall commissions an IT company to determine how many Ukrainian mobile phones have been linked to the Polish network for more than three days and uses that number as a basis for estimates. Most of the Ukrainian refugees are women and children, while the men are fighting in the war. These days, though, few refugees are still coming across the border. The Ukrainians aren’t the only newcomers in Rzeszów. Since early February, American soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, have been based in the convention center. They're there to secure Rzeszów’s airport, which is where most of the weapons deliveries from the West arrive before being sent across the border into Ukraine. Setting Aside History Fijołek rushes to his car, late for his next scheduled appearance to lay the cornerstone for a new police station. The drive passes by suitably renovated buildings from the Austro-Hungarian era on streets that are free of potholes and lined with well-marked bicycle lanes. "It doesn’t appear to me that the Poles are getting tired of the refugees," the mayor says, adding that the willingness to help is just as pronounced as ever. And this despite the fact that this corner of Poland is considered a stronghold of Polish nationalism, and many here still have a historical score to settle with the Ukrainians. In World War II, Ukrainian fighters descended upon the region, skewering children on pitchforks, murdering and raping residents and burning down their homes. Some 60,000 people were killed. "We have set aside this history. The people here understand that the Ukrainians are now fighting for our freedom," says Fijołek. [...] Back in City Hall, he pours himself another glass of the grapefruit soda as his assistant drags the EU flag from his office into the plenary hall. Today is a special day: Rzeszów is to become formal partners with the half-destroyed northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. The assistant says that many in the city are concerned that Rzeszów itself could become a target and that a Russian missile might hit the airport. The airport has flights to places like Venice, Antalya and London. But these days, it is also the destination for numerous cargo planes, some of them painted in camouflage. Rzeszów and the airfield in nearby Mielec have become important hubs for the transfer of weapons from the West to the battleground in Ukraine. Though even Fijołek doesn’t know much about the deliveries of military materiel and weaponry, saying merely that much of it is then likely sent across the nearby border in trucks. Members of the 82nd Airborne from Fort Bragg, for their part, likely don’t know much about the day-to-day of the mayor either. Every now and then, you can see muscled young men going for a jog behind the makeshift fencing at the convention center. Their task is to secure the airport, and their barracks containers, fire-control station and radar units can hardly be seen beneath the camouflage netting at the edge of the tarmac. What can be seen, however, are the long crate-like objects pointed threateningly to the eastern sky. Commercial jets landing and taking off here now fly through a phalanx of Patriot air defense missiles, and drones also use this airport for surveillance flights to the border region. One month after the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden came to this region in southeastern Poland to visit the troops. The soldiers offered Biden a piece of pizza – the Nr. 22 with salami and jalapeños – from their favorite Italian restaurant, called Pizzeria Gusto. Owner Damian Drupka could hardly believe his good luck, and since then, Nr. 22 has been his bestselling pizza. Where Is the EU? Mayor Fijołek also believes the presence of the soldiers presents opportunities for his city. Indeed, if it were up to him, his town would become a permanent NATO base. The alliance, after all, is interested in boosting its defenses on the eastern flank for the foreseeable future. Strangely inconspicuous in the city, though, is the European Union. "We have mostly managed to provide aid to the refugees on our own," says Fijołek, who considers himself to be "pro-European." The government in Warsaw initially provided 40 złoty per person per day (around 8 euros) to everyone who opened their home to refugees, but that aid program expired at the end of June. Konrad Fijołek had hoped that the EU would actually eliminate red tape given the war in Ukraine. He believes that municipalities such as his own should be able to approach the EU directly for financial support. The fact that they cannot is partially the result of years of conflict between Warsaw and Brussels on issues relating to the rule of law in Poland. The European Commission has accused the national-conservative government in the country of seeking to rein in the judiciary. For that reason, some 36 billion euros in corona pandemic recovery aid hasn’t yet been paid out to Poland – and Fijołek sees himself as one of those who has to bear the burden. "If Warsaw hadn’t systematically destroyed relations with the EU, a lot of things would now be much easier," he says. The mayor was actually supposed to receive a visit on this day from Vladyslav Atroshenko, his counterpart from Rzeszów’s new partner city of Chernihiv. But the Ukrainian border guards didn’t let him cross into Poland. All Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to remain in Ukraine and defend the country, and they may only leave the country if they get special permission to do so. Was that permission not granted in Atroshenko’s case? Rzeszów officials have no specific information on that score. So Fijołek grabs is mobile phone and opens WhatsApp. "Hello Vładek, how are you doing?" The mayor of the "City of Saviors" is on a first-name basis with his counterpart from the "City of Heroes," a title that Chernihiv received due to its defensive battle against the Russians. "We have become friends," says Fijołek. [...] https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-trials-of-rzeszow-a-polish-town-learns-to-live-with-war-on-its-doorstep-a-60030b41-1933-4186-845b-7526402ac03e
BansheeOne Posted July 17, 2022 Posted July 17, 2022 The German brigade for Lithuania will reportedly be Panzergrenadierbrigade 41, which will pre-position an HQ, equipment and ammunition. #REFORLIT
bd1 Posted July 23, 2022 Posted July 23, 2022 lithuania allows transit to kaliningrad, just after russia agrees to ukrainian grain export. completely unrelated of course.
BansheeOne Posted September 4, 2022 Posted September 4, 2022 On 7/17/2022 at 9:36 AM, BansheeOne said: The German brigade for Lithuania will reportedly be Panzergrenadierbrigade 41, which will pre-position an HQ, equipment and ammunition. #REFORLIT Initial personnel and equipment for the forward command element from PzGrenBrig 41 arrived today. Official inauguration was planned for Thursday next week, but has been postponed because defense minister Christine Lambrecht needs to attend the Ramstein contact group on Ukraine instead. I guess it won't hinder their work.
BansheeOne Posted October 8, 2022 Posted October 8, 2022 Forward HQ for PzGrenBrig 41 in Lithuania was officially activated today. Other elements of the brigade will rotate there for exercises; the full formation is planned to deploy within ten days if alerted.
BansheeOne Posted October 18, 2022 Posted October 18, 2022 Troops from Jägerbataillon 413, PzGrenBrig 41 training with Lithuanian Hussars in exercise Fast Griffin. The current plan seems to rotate elements of the brigade by reinforced companies to acquaint them with deployment and terrain, at least until local infrastructure is expanded to accommodate more. As noted previously, so far quarters and training facilities have been on edge for use by eFP BG Lithuania, American and other forces to the point of frustration for German troops who couldn't get planned activities in, but the Lithuanians seem to put a lot of work into building them up.
kokovi Posted October 18, 2022 Posted October 18, 2022 (edited) Probably the camo scheme should return to the old greenish one for NATO central front. But compared to Afghanistan, there is at least some effort seen to blur the outlines of vehicles and soldiers. Edited October 18, 2022 by kokovi
bd1 Posted October 21, 2022 Posted October 21, 2022 a week ago going to work, i merged on to the highway right in middle of british HET convoy. those are pretty impressive trucks local territorial defence forces are looking to acquire british tanks https://news.err.ee/1608759250/gallery-british-tanks-arrive-in-saaremaa-for-military-exercise
Stuart Galbraith Posted October 23, 2022 Posted October 23, 2022 If I remember correctly, there were some quite extensive tank gunnery ranges on Saarema during the cold war. Nice that its a friendlier nation this time.
BansheeOne Posted November 12, 2022 Posted November 12, 2022 (edited) On 10/18/2022 at 10:42 AM, BansheeOne said: Troops from Jägerbataillon 413, PzGrenBrig 41 training with Lithuanian Hussars in exercise Fast Griffin. The current plan seems to rotate elements of the brigade by reinforced companies to acquaint them with deployment and terrain, at least until local infrastructure is expanded to accommodate more. As noted previously, so far quarters and training facilities have been on edge for use by eFP BG Lithuania, American and other forces to the point of frustration for German troops who couldn't get planned activities in, but the Lithuanians seem to put a lot of work into building them up. Quote German, Lithuanian FMs agree to more military cooperation 15 hours ago Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country would be ready to host a German military brigade by 2026. He made the announcement after meeting with Germany's Annalena Baerbock. Lithuania will invest in infrastructure to be ready to host a German military brigade on its soil by 2026, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said in Berlin after meeting with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Friday. "By 2026, Lithuania will be ready to accept a full brigade with everything that it entails. We will have warehouses, barracks — everything that is needed," Landsbergis said. [...] Opinions vary between Berlin and Vilnius as to the final make up of what is expected to be the stationing of as many as 5,000 German soldiers on NATO's eastern flank by 2026. Vilnius wants all of Germany's promised troops stationed on its soil, whereas Berlin wants most stationed in Germany but ready for immediate deployment to Lithuania or "wherever they are needed." Baerbock said Berlin stood behind its committment "100%," noting that more than 1,000 German troops are already stationed in Lithuania. Foreign Minister Landsbergis said the German decision was very much appreciated, commenting that the only way to influence Russia's decision making was to station more troops on NATO's eastern flank. Vilnius expects Germany's approval of its infrastructure work and the deployment of troops by the time the 2023 NATO summit takes place next June. https://www.dw.com/en/german-lithuanian-foreign-ministers-agree-to-increased-military-cooperation/a-63726196 Edited November 12, 2022 by BansheeOne
BansheeOne Posted December 10, 2022 Posted December 10, 2022 Quote Estonia establishes a division within its defence forces By BNS / December 8, 2022 The Estonian government on 8 December amended the statutes of the defence forces to create a division as a structural unit of the defence forces, as agreed at the NATO summit in Madrid. “This is a historic decision, which on the one hand shows the development of our defence forces, but also its integration with NATO,” the Estonian defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, said. “The establishment of a division significantly increases our defence and resilience.” With the amendment of the statutes, the minister of defence is given the right to appoint a division commander. The appointment is based on the proposal of the head of the defence forces. The composition of the division includes the 1st and 2nd infantry brigades, the Logistics Battalion and the Headquarters and Signal Battalion as well as the allied brigade, which, according to previous agreements, is the brigade designated by the United Kingdom for the defence of Estonia. [...] https://estonianworld.com/security/estonia-establishes-a-division-within-its-defence-forces/
BansheeOne Posted December 17, 2022 Posted December 17, 2022 Quote Enhancements to Persistent U.S. Force Presence in Lithuania Press Release 12/07/2022 U.S. Ambassador Robert Gilchrist informed Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas that, as part of the ongoing commitment to its Baltic Allies, the United States will further enhance the continuous and persistent U.S. military presence in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In Lithuania, this initially includes transitioning the episodic deployments of an armored battalion-sized element and field artillery battery to a persistent rotational presence. At the NATO Summit in Madrid, President Biden committed to enhanced rotational deployments and a heel-to-toe presence of U.S. forces in the Baltic region. The forces the United States is deploying are part of that enhanced presence model and are evidence of the U.S. commitment to strengthening our collective defense and deterrence posture on NATO’s eastern flank. In addition to U.S. bilateral efforts, NATO’s multinational battle groups provide critical deterrence, training, and allied integration in the region. [...] https://lt.usembassy.gov/enhancements-to-persistent-u-s-force-presence-in-lithuania-press-release/
TrustMe Posted December 17, 2022 Posted December 17, 2022 US troops are going awfully close to Russia
bd1 Posted January 9, 2023 Posted January 9, 2023 chief of EDF, lt.gen. Herem wrote a longer post on facebook about the future, which is now translated into english. it´s not an article as such, but a post, style unedited. TL, DR - Quote Let us now imagine again a situation where troops from the Russian Federation have left Ukrainian soil. However, according to Russia (children's) opinion, they would have left territory rightfully belonging to Russia. They left because the Ukrainians, who are a joke, and represent decadent western values, and who received aid from the West, have somehow been able to kick out the "mighty Russia". The accompanying outcome is relatively substantial economic decline, isolation, the anger of the relatives of those who lost their lives in the war, and war invalids in the streets being a constant reminder of that loss, while Kyiv rules over territory declared Russian. There is no need to fantasize about what the motivation for Russia to demonstrate its military power somewhere and someday might be; to take revenge. After all, everyone knows the efforts made by the three Baltic states in supporting Ukraine, as well as those by Poland, the U.K., the U.S…. but the latter are big countries. ..... and that we need more ammo https://news.err.ee/1608840238/opinion-we-must-be-ready-for-the-next-phase-of-russian-aggression
BansheeOne Posted January 30, 2023 Posted January 30, 2023 Certainly campaign-related, but I'm also sure Polish defense expenditures will only go up from here. Quote Poland to allocate 4 pct of GDP to military spending in 2023: PM kk/jd 30.01.2023, 11:48 There is no strong state without a strong army, Poland’s PM Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday in Siedlce, where he met with soldiers of the 18th Mechanised Division. He announced that this year Poland plans to allocate 4 percent of its GDP to the army. The head of government assured at a press conference that for the Polish government the “highest, absolute priority” is to increase the strength of the Polish army and strengthen the presence of NATO troops on Polish territory. The Poles have entrusted us to govern at a difficult time, the war in Ukraine makes it necessary for us to arm ourselves even faster. That is why we will make an unprecedented effort this year: 4 percent of the GDP for the Polish military, this will perhaps be the largest percentage allocated to the army among all NATO countries, he said. Deputy PM and Minister of Defence Mariusz Blaszczak, also present in Siedlce, recalled that Poland already has Patriot missile systems, Himmars missiles have also been ordered, and this year the first Abrams tanks will reach the country. https://tvpworld.com/65942560/poland-to-allocate-4-pct-of-gdp-to-military-spending-in-2023-pm
JWB Posted March 5, 2023 Posted March 5, 2023 Russian minority shuns Estonia vote over Ukraine support (msn.com)
BansheeOne Posted March 7, 2023 Posted March 7, 2023 On 10/18/2022 at 10:42 AM, BansheeOne said: Troops from Jägerbataillon 413, PzGrenBrig 41 training with Lithuanian Hussars in exercise Fast Griffin. The current plan seems to rotate elements of the brigade by reinforced companies to acquaint them with deployment and terrain, at least until local infrastructure is expanded to accommodate more. Or in this case, by battalion [-]. Jägerbataillon 413 again, participating in Ex Griffin Lightning after a roadmarch to Lithuania, with elements of Panzergrenadierbataillon 402 and some others. Less stellar: Panzerbataillon 393 needs to borrow Leopard 2 A7V from other units again for VJTF, as only 20 of its own are currently deployable; apparently the entirety of the variant is undergoing a two-year check by industry this year, and lack of spares is holding up inspections. Which goes to show once more that decades of penny-pinching will drag you down for years afterwards, particularly if the turnaround is itself mired in institutional inertia.
BansheeOne Posted April 7, 2023 Posted April 7, 2023 Quote Latvia reintroduces compulsory military service Grzegorz Szymanowski in Riga 5 hours ago The Baltic nation feels threatened due to the war in Ukraine. But, as a visit to a skatepark in the capital shows, many young men are not convinced that compulsory military service is the right reaction. Skateboarders are known for their rebellious ways. So it's hardly surprising that the Latvian government's recent decision to reintroduce compulsory military service has not gone down particularly well with the young people at a skatepark in central Riga, the country's capital. "I'd rather be skateboarding, I want to be a free person, not shooting," a 21-year-old shouted before heading down the ramp. Although he is unlikely to be drafted yet, military service will soon become mandatory again for all 18 to 27-year-old males in Latvia. Women will be allowed to participate voluntarily. The decision was made by the country's parliament on April 5. Latvia has not had compulsory military service since 2007 when it was abolished. The reason for the reintroduction is Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. "Ukraine is a clear example of how important a morally resilient and well-prepared civilian population is to push back any aggressor," Latvian Defense Minister Inara Murniece said recently. From 2024 onward, the number of conscripts will increase. The plan is to call up 7,500 Latvians every year, starting in 2028. This will increase the size of the army from over 22,000 soldiers to 50,000, including territorial defense and reserves. Conscription all round Riga is following the lead of other Baltic NATO members who feel threatened by Russia. Lithuania reintroduced conscription a few years ago while Estonia never abolished it. Despite what the skateboarders think, there is also support for the reintroduction of conscription in Latvia. Ralf, 18, was walking home from a choir rehearsal via the skate park and told DW he thought it was a good idea in principle. "Men are getting weaker and weaker these days, so discipline can help," he said. When asked what he would do if he were called up, Ralf, who preferred not to give his full name because of the sensitivity of the topic, said, "I think I would go to get stronger and meet new people." For Ralf, politics did not play a role. How to persuade recruits The Latvian government is also hoping to convince more young people like Ralf to pursue a career in the military in future. "It's a challenge," Toms Rostoks, research director at Latvia's National Defense Academy, conceded. "Our professional units have difficulty recruiting soldiers." He said that many people had signed up for territorial defense since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. This results in them being prepared and training, he explained, but it also allowed those who sign up to pursue their own professions. Far fewer people wanted to become professional soldiers. The alternative to reintroducing conscription would have been to raise salaries for professional soldiers, Rostoks said, but, "that would have been very expensive." Additionally it's not clear that raising salaries would have helped with recruitment, Rostoks noted. As an alternative to compulsory military service, Latvia will also allow civilian service in military institutions. The army hopes to engage even those who are sceptical of military service by presenting this as a chance for them. "We hope that the instructors will be able to convince them that they will acquire new skills and new experiences," Rostoks added. Public opinion divided There have not been any national opinion polls conducted on the topic recently. But a study in May 2022 found that 45% of Latvians were in favor of conscription while 42% opposed it, Maris Andzans, a professor at Riga Stradins University, wrote in a Februrary briefing for the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis. According to him, support was lower among younger respondents, with only 34% in the 18-24 age group supportive of the idea. "Older people are generally more positive towards it than the youth," Rostoks confirmed. That's also why the government is moving forward carefully and starting with smaller numbers of conscripts, he explained. [...] https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-with-the-war-in-ukraine-conscription-returns/a-65257169
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