Moscow [Russia], February 15: Russia is preparing itself militarily for a confrontation with the West, the Estonian secret service said in a report released on Tuesday evening.
The preparations are indicated by Russian military reform, according to the annual report of the foreign intelligence service of the Baltic EU and NATO country presented in the Estonian capital Tallinn.
The reform reflects the Russian leadership's ideas regarding the resources required for the war in Ukraine and a confrontation with the West, it said.
"We can assume that within the next decade, NATO will be confronted with a mass army of the Soviet type, which is technologically inferior to the allies, but poses a significant threat due to its size, firepower and reserves," intelligence chief Kaupo Rosin wrote in the report.
In order to defend themselves against a possible conventional attack by such an army, the armies and defence industries of the NATO allies would have to be significantly better prepared and equipped than is currently the case, Rosin wrote.
For Estonia the military reform will mean a significant increase in the Russian armed forces near the Baltic state's border in the coming years, the report said.
Russia is also planning to station more troops on the border with the other Baltic states and Finland. Russia's aim is to achieve military dominance in the Baltic Sea region, according to the report. However, according to Rosin, the likelihood of a direct attack on Estonia this year is low.
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced a reorganization of the Russian army at the end of 2022 in order to implement the increase in troop strength demanded by the Kremlin.
The combat power of the navy, the air force and the missile forces were also to be strengthened. The renewal of the structures should be completed between 2023 and 2026.
Earlier Tuesday, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said there was "nothing suprising" about Moscow placing her, and other high-ranking Baltic politicians, on a list of "wanted" persons.
"Russia's move is nothing surprising," Kallas wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "This is yet more proof that I am doing the right thing - the EU's strong support to Ukraine is a success and it hurts Russia." In addition to Kallas, Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys are also on the Russian Interior Ministry's list.
Source: Qatar Tribune
