Estonia begins installing concrete bunkers along its border with Russia

As of this week, seven bunkers are expected to be installed. By the end of the year, the installation of 28 bunkers is planned, said Krismar Rosin, spokesman for the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments.

The first phase envisions creating a network of 600 bunkers intended to strengthen the EU and NATO’s eastern flank, the outlet reported.

Rosin acknowledged that the exact timeline for the project remains uncertain. Of the 28 bunkers, 27 are located on state or municipal land, with only one on private property.

The publication noted that the project began a year later than planned due to tendering problems. Initial bids for the 600 bunkers exceeded the approved budget because construction companies could not assess the complexity of the work without precise knowledge of the locations, which remained confidential for security reasons, Rosin said.

To address the issue, Estonia announced approximate locations for tender participants and received realistic cost estimates for 28 bunkers. Defense News reported that the remaining 572 are expected to be put out to tender by the end of the year.

According to Rosin, each bunker, covering about 35 square meters, is designed to withstand direct hits from 152 mm artillery shells.

The outlet added that beyond procurement challenges, the project is complicated by the need to coordinate with the Estonian armed forces, police and border guard, municipalities and private landowners.