They arranged to meet us in this immense forest on the edge of the country.

 

Don't be fooled by the uniform. These men did not belong to the regular army.

They are part of the Estonian Defence League, a paramilitary group.

Their mission: to defend their land.

They are there to train themselves to kill.

 

(shots)

 

The shots are fired with live ammunition. 400 strokes per minute. The adversary today is these targets hidden in the forest. But in their minds, the enemy has a name.

 

Synth at 55''

Major Tanel Capes

Huma of Commandant Le

 

You know who attacked Ukraine... Russia, of course. And we live right next door.

 

Do you think Estonia is Vladimir Putin's next target?

 

I don't think anything but I just have to be ready for it.

 

Major Kenner is a legend in Estonia. This ex-soldier served in Iraq and Afghanistan. On weekends, he trains these ordinary citizens. They are sauna salesmen, teachers, or psychologists.

 

For them, the question is not whether Russia will attack, but when.

 

Title at 1'29''

 

Like them, 30,000 Estonians are believed to be members of paramilitary groups.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the number of volunteers has exploded.

 

Thomas Well (1'48'')

I hesitated for a long time to join the Estonian Defence League. When Russia attacked Ukraine, I understood that it was urgent.

 

How do you see Russians?

 

Young Man (1'59'')

I don't have an ideal picture of it. I don't really like them.

 

Anneli is a shopkeeper. This young mother has been training for 5 years.

 

Synth at 2'18''

Sergent Anneli

Estonian Defence League

 

I want to be able to defend my homeland. My right to live in freedom. No one can take that away from me. I have a simple life but I want to be ready if things go wrong.

 

Andres, on the other hand, is a municipal employee.

At the age of 53, he lived through the Soviet occupation. This father of 3 was forcibly conscripted into the Red Army before the fall of communism.

There is no question of ceding a square centimetre to the Russians.

He trains almost every weekend.

 

Synth at 2'51''

Andres Miller

Estonian Defence League

 

I'm happy to fight against them. I'd rather fight as a free man than live a life as a slave. I'm afraid the war will come here sooner or later. As long as I can fight... I'd rather die than see my children killed.

 

But with a population comparable to French-speaking Switzerland, could a few thousand Estonian civilians, even if trained, really be able to resist the Russian army?

The major, a great lover of navigation and football, uses metaphor.

 

Synth at 3'34''

Major Tanel Capes

Huma of Commandant Le

 

It's like football, you play at home. We know the people, we know our terrain, our forests, our seas, we are at home. They should be afraid to come to my forest, I am not afraid in my forest.

 

(Andres chops wood)

 

Once the training is over, Andres takes us on a tour of his house, or rather his forest. He owns 5 hectares here, including this small lake.  And when asked if he sometimes bathes in the summer. He smiles and motions for us to wait for him...

 

Andres wants to show us that Estonians are not afraid of anything.

 

(Andres bathes)

 

As soon as he warms up, Andres says he is ready to do anything to defend his freedom.

 

Synth at 4'40''

Andres Miller

Estonian Defence League

 

I've always dreamed of living in my own house, it was impossible during the Soviet era. I have the courage to fight against the Russians precisely because I fought in their ranks and I know what it's like.

 

If we fight we have a chance, otherwise we will be killed or sent to Siberia. We don't have a choice.

 

I have a son in the army. If war comes, we will take up arms and go into battle from here.

 

(Ellipse)

 

But the fear of the Russian ogre is also spreading to the interior of the country.

Tallinn. The capital. It is called the Pearl of the Baltic.

The walls of the city are adorned with the colors of the country and also of Ukraine.

Estonia is one of Kiev's main backers.

 

In the heart of the historic centre, the Russian embassy is an outlet.

The locals are not polite.

 

(fuck)

 

Voxpop

(5'44'')

That's the problem with Russia, you never know what's going to happen next.

 

We will continue to fight against Vladimir Putin's regime until he is dead.

 

Alexander is a Russian émigré. He fell in love with Estonia and has been living there for 7 years.

 

Alexander :

I felt completely safe at the beginning of my life here in Estonia. But since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, every day I feel that very possibly Russia can turn its sick ambitions towards Estonia, and Lithuania, Latvia, Poland.

 

For the past few days, strange signs have appeared on the side of the roads.

We see what's on everyone's mind: a city that already imagines itself under bombs.

 

On the outskirts of the capital, engineers are working to prevent this nightmare from coming true.

At Milrem Roboitcs, we develop land drones. They will defend the country in the event of an invasion.

In the company's car park, an improbable demonstration was witnessed

 

VROUM VROUM ROBOT

 

That way, this robot doesn't look very dangerous

But it's powered by artificial intelligence.

Able to fight autonomously.

It can also be equipped with weapons of war.

 

Images Milrem Robotics

 

Several of these Estonian robots are already in use in Ukraine. Russia is desperate to get its hands on it.

 

Synth at 7'30''

Raul RIKK DIRECTOR

Strategic Director Milrem

About 1 year ago, Russia promised a reward of 1 million rubles for the capture of our robot. They wanted to take our technology and make it their own. And last week, we learned that the reward has increased to 2 million.

 

Estonia is one of the European countries that invests the most in its defence.

3.2% of its GDP, a far cry from Switzerland's 0.8%.

 

Of course we hope that no one will attack us but to be sure to avoid it, we have to give ourselves the means to do so, which is exactly what we are doing here.

 

But a hybrid war may have already begun in Estonia.

To see this, you have to cross the whole country, up to the Russian border, in the city of Narva.  (map)

 

This bridge is one of the last land crossing points between Europe and Russia

On one side the fortress and the Russian city of Ivangorod, on the other Narva.

The bridge is under heavy surveillance. It is a hotspot for arms trafficking and sensitive technological equipment orchestrated by Russia.

 

At the beginning of February it was closed to vehicles, only pedestrians are still allowed.

 

For 75 km, the Narva River forms the border. A natural barrier, but well guarded.

 

Let's get on board with Arles. He is a border guard. He is the one who monitors this ultra-sensitive and soon ultra-militarized area.

Estonia has just announced the construction of 600 bunkers along its border.

Russia is right there, it would only take a few fathoms to reach it.  It's best not to risk it.

 

Synth at 9'31''

Arles Pertman

Border guard

 

It's an American weapon.

On patrol I see if there are footprints, I also look at the images.

 

Have you ever used your weapon?

 

Only when necessary, of course. It is for the security of Estonia.

 

Do you also have cameras?

 

Yes, we have hidden cameras in the forest and also radar systems. And of course, there are car and foot patrols.

 

For Arles, who grew up here, on the other side of the river, it is now an unknown land.

 

I don't have any friends on the Russian side. I don't know anything about this place.

 

And Vladimir Putin?

 

Obviously, he's a bad person.

 

But Vladimir Putin has many supporters in Narva. Here, 95% of the population is Russian-speaking.

On this day, a small group comes to pray around this pedestal.

A statue to the glory of the Red Army was enthroned here.

The government in Tallinn debunked it following the war in Ukraine.

 

Synth at 10'52''

Olga

Of course, there are many Russian-speaking people here and throughout the region.

And everyone felt insulted when they destroyed this monument. It's really barbaric. Those who did this are barbarians.

 

Synth at 11'01''

Tatiana

We are grateful. And proud. Because the Russians have allowed us to have peace over our heads.

 

Olga, Tatiana and the others are members of an influential political party in Narva. His watchword is to preserve friendship with Russia and stop military aid to Ukraine.

 

Tatiana

The Minister of Defence says we need to help Ukraine because we are at war. But the war is out there, it's not our war.

 

(fade to black)

 

On 24 February, thousands of people gathered in Tallinn. Sad coincidence, Estonia's Independence Day also marks 2 years since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

 

All eyes are on Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. The head of government has gained worldwide notoriety since Moscow issued an arrest warrant for her. Vladimir Putin blames him for toppling Soviet statues.

 

At the end of the ceremony, she agreed to answer our questions.

 

Synth at 12'17''

Jackdaw Kallas

Prime Minister of Estonia

 

The military parade is under heavy surveillance.

 

Elite troops, armoured vehicles, Estonia is flexing its muscles.

 

Today the watchword is "elaguesti". Long live Estonia

 

A cry from the heart, no doubt suspended on the unpredictable ambitions of Validmir Putin