The second stage of the Baltic Shield, the joint mine countermeasures military drills of the Estonian and the Finnish Navy, started on Monday in the Estonian waters, the Estonian Defense Forces' press service said in a statemen
TALLINN (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th October, 2018) The second stage of the Baltic Shield, the joint mine countermeasures military drills of the Estonian and the Finnish Navy, started on Monday in the Estonian waters, the Estonian Defense Forces' press service said in a statement.
"The drills, which will last until October 11, will include the search and elimination of explosive devices of World War I and World War II periods. The Estonian side's command vessel Wambola and mine hunter Ugandi will engage in the drills, while the Finnish Navy will be represented by Katanpaa, Purunpaa and Vahterpaa military vessels. Around 200 navy officers will take part in the exercise," the statement read.
Since 2010, Finland has been organizing the Baltic Shield exercise uniting its naval forces and the Estonian naval forces. The exercise is set to improve the two countries' cooperation on national defense.
The first stage of the Baltic shiled-2018 exercise started on October 1 and was held in the Finnish waters.
