British and Estonian troops have demolished a highway bridge just 120 miles from Russia’s border in a show of military strength to warn Vladimir Putin.
The Kanama viaduct on the Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla motorway was destroyed in a controlled explosion at 1am.
Estonian forces led the operation, joined by British military engineers stationed in the region as part of NATO’s defence strategy.
The bridge was built during the Soviet era and due to be replaced.
However, officials used the opportunity to practise wartime demolition tactics while sending a clear warning to Russia and Putin.
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Captain Urmas Tonto of the Estonian Defence Forces said: “The demolition of the Kanama viaduct provided an excellent opportunity to practise the controlled demolition of a real structure and to test the unit’s professionalism, enhancing our readiness for wartime tasks.
“At the same time, it supported the Transport Administration in improving infrastructure at a major and critical traffic junction.”
The new bridge will cost around £11.5 million and have increased load capacity from 80 tonnes to 360 tonnes.
This will allow NATO to transport heavy military equipment across Estonia and improve the country’s defence.
Estonia is a NATO and EU member and shares a 207-mile border with Russia. It has been reinforcing its defences amid fears of Russian aggression.
Military exercises like this aim to prepare for scenarios where key infrastructure might need to be destroyed to block advancing forces.
Britain has around 1,500 troops stationed in Estonia as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative. The alliance is focused on deterring threats and ensuring stability in the Baltic region.
Estonia, which is about twice the size of Wales with a population of 1.36 million, has been investing heavily in security.
This operation was seen as a clear message to Moscow that its borders are well defended.
