Estonia’s permanent representative to NATO, Ambassador Jüri Luik, said on 28 July 2025, on Vikerraadio — Estonian Public Broadcasting’s main radio channel — that Europe cannot realistically mount a credible defense against Russia without Ukraine’s involvement, highlighting Ukraine’s indispensable role in sustaining European security architecture.

“If Europe manages to achieve some kind of peace or truce [in Ukraine — EMP], or if we talk about Europe being able to defend itself against Russia, it is very difficult to imagine such a defense without Ukraine,” Luik said.

European and NATO intelligence agencies have increasingly warned of a growing hybrid and conventional threat from Russia, particularly toward NATO member states. Moscow appears to be preparing a multifaceted campaign — including sabotage of critical infrastructure, disinformation operations, and electronic warfare — aimed at projecting pressure beyond Ukraine’s borders. In the Baltic region, disruptions to undersea cables and power infrastructure — including the Estlink cable between Estonia and Finland — have raised alarms over possible sabotage by the so-called Russian “shadow fleet.”

Luik emphasized in the interview that Ukraine’s large and battle-hardened ground forces are essential not only for defending its own territory but also for enabling a cohesive European defense posture — one that can operate independently of US military dominance and deter potential Russian aggression.

Estonia and Ukraine have deepened bilateral cooperation since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, including joint military training, intelligence sharing, cyber defense collaboration, and political coordination within NATO and EU frameworks. Estonia now allocates more than 4% of its GDP to defense spending and has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest advocates in both Brussels and NATO, underscoring a shared strategic view of Moscow’s threat.

Russia has deployed additional electronic warfare equipment near the Baltic nation’s frontier, escalating regional tensions as GPS jamming incidents increase across the region, Estonia’s Interior Minister Igor Taro said on 24 July.

Western security assessments warn that Russia poses a continuing threat of future aggression against EU countries, with concerns growing over its long-term strategic intentions beyond Ukraine. The Baltic nations – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia – are named among the most threatened nation.

Russian forces moved signals jamming systems to the Kingisiepp area, located 20 kilometers from Estonia’s border, Igor Taro announced during a press conference in Tallinn on 24 July, according to Bloomberg.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The equipment mirrors technology Russia employs in Ukraine to disrupt drone navigation systems. However, the electronic warfare capabilities create widespread interference with GPS systems used by commercial aviation and maritime vessels.

Estonia’s internal security agency has contacted Russian military officials regarding the deployment, according to Taro. The development follows earlier warnings from Estonian authorities about intensified GPS interference near Narva and the Narva Bay coastline.

The jamming campaign extends beyond Estonia’s borders. Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa said that Russia’s GPS signal blocking scope “is expanding.” Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on 17 June that his country “records GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea” linked to Russian activities.

Estonia, positioned on NATO’s eastern flank, maintains strong support for Ukraine while rapidly expanding its defense capabilities to counter potential Russian aggression. Regional tensions have heightened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Baltic states reporting increased electronic warfare incidents.

The electronic warfare systems pose risks beyond military applications, as GPS interference affects civilian aircraft navigation and commercial shipping operations throughout the Baltic region.

Estonian troops have conducted their first live-fire exercise with HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems following four months of training, ERR reports.

Following the exercise, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, accused the Baltic states of “provocative actions.” He stated that Russia, as a Baltic state, will defend its interests in the region.

“Russia is a Baltic state that intends to firmly defend its legitimate interests in the region. The fact that many countries are engaging in provocative actions there is an obvious reality,” Peskov said.

Six HIMARS systems were ordered from the US after Naryshkin’s claims. They were officially delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces at the Ämari air base. The US-funded delivery is part of a broader security assistance package aimed at strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.

Lithuania and Latvia have also purchased HIMARS systems. Vilnius acquired eight launchers, while Riga signed an agreement to receive six systems by 2027, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The first live-fire drills took place on 11 July. According to the Estonian Defence Forces, the rockets were launched from the shores of Saaremaa island and hit sea targets 15 kilometers away in under a minute.

“In fact, we didn’t do much damage to the sea since these were training rounds without warheads. As for accuracy, I can say we can hit a bucket from a very long distance,” said Sergeant Margus Oras of the rocket artillery unit.

HIMARS systems are capable of launching precision-guided munitions that support integrated fire missions and can strike point or area targets at distances exceeding 300 kilometers.

The maximum firing range potentially allows Estonia to target areas near the Russian border, including in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast, New Voice reports. According to local reports, Estonia now not only has artillery forces but its own missile forces as well.