TALLINN, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) — The Estonian government has declared a snap defence readiness exercise, Okas 25-1 (Quill), involving over 200 reservists in a move officials say is routine and not in response to any direct threat.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal’s cabinet approved the exercise on Monday, ordering up to 229 reservists from the Movement and Transport Service under the Support Command to report for duty between April 22 and 30. The government emphasized that the training drill is “of a defensive manner” and that “there is no immediate security threat to Estonia.”
The decision follows a proposal by the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces and forms part of a broader national defence readiness strategy.
“The purpose of exercise Okas is to test the chain of command—from the government’s decision to the combat readiness of our rapid response units,” a government spokesperson said. “Security does not generate by itself. This is why we must train continuously, even in peacetime.”
Active-duty military personnel will support the reservists during the drill, while called-up units must report to specified assembly points as indicated in their individual orders.
Information for the reservists is available on the official military service website, www.kaitsevaeteenistus.ee, or through the Defence Resources Agency’s hotline at +372 8002525.
Okas, which means “quill” in Estonian, is one of several snap exercises (SNAPEX) that complement regularly scheduled drills like Siil (Hedgehog) and Kevadtorm (Spring Storm), which usually come with longer 120-day notices.
The last Okas SNAPEX was conducted in December 2024.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
