Estonia has begun installing the first concrete bunkers along its southeastern border with Russia, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s defenses as part of NATO’s eastern flank, according to reports by Defense News.

Krismar Rosin, a representative of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI), said that seven bunkers are currently ready for installation, with plans to deploy a total of 28 bunkers by the end of this year. These structures will form the initial phase of a much larger defensive network expected to include around 600 bunkers in total.

The shelters are designed as part of a multi-layered defensive system aimed at deterring or slowing a potential military incursion. Each bunker covers an area of approximately 35 square meters and is engineered to withstand direct hits from 152-millimeter artillery shells, a caliber widely used in the region.

The bunker network is being constructed under the Baltic Defence Line, a joint regional initiative involving Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to reinforce the eastern border of the European Union and NATO. The project reflects growing security concerns in the Baltic region following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and heightened military activity near NATO borders.

Rosin said Estonia has already stockpiled barbed wire and “dragon’s teeth” anti-tank barriers, which are being stored at pre-prepared sites and can be rapidly installed if the security situation deteriorates.

“The bunkers are currently in the process of being deployed, but they are not yet fully ready,” the Centre for Defence Investments said in a statement, noting that final construction and operational timelines remain subject to technical and logistical factors.

The bunkers are being installed primarily in Setomaa municipality and other parts of southeastern Estonia. Of the initial 28 shelters, 27 will be located on state or municipal land, while one bunker will be built on private property, with agreements reached with the landowner.

Estonia has allocated €60 million for its share of the Baltic Defence Line project. Officials say approximately €30 million has already been spent, and a public tender for the construction of the remaining 572 bunkers is expected to be launched by the end of the year.

Estonian defense officials have stressed that the bunker system is defensive in nature and intended to complement existing capabilities such as rapid troop deployment, surveillance, and allied reinforcement under NATO’s collective defense framework.

In recent months, Estonia has continued to increase defense spending above 2 percent of GDP, expand military exercises with NATO allies, and enhance border infrastructure. The government has also emphasized close coordination with neighboring Latvia and Lithuania to ensure interoperability and rapid response across the Baltic region.

The bunker project is expected to continue into 2026 and beyond, aligning with NATO’s long-term regional defense plans and reflecting the Baltic states’ determination to bolster resilience against potential threats. (ILKHA)