From the start of the war in 2014 until 2019, around 3 000 Russians were known to fight on Kyiv’s side. By 2024, the number had at least tripled, with the rebirth of the original dissident battalions along with the formation of attached special-purpose units.
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Following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, several European states re-introduced conscription while others took steps to increase the effectiveness of existing conscription arrangements. Compulsory military service, often regarded as an anachronism in the post-Cold War period, has thus re-emerged as a means to ensure that relatively large wartime force structures can be generated at low cost and, in some cases, to provide personnel to standing units.
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Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association held its annual Baltic Sea Cooperation Seminar in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu on 13-15 October.
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Russia’s military aggression gave rise to many spontaneous social and economic developments in Ukraine.
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Dutch newspaper Trouw published an article on the role of various voluntary organisations in defence of the Baltic states.
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In the current geopolitical situation, with the Ukrainian-Russian conflict threatening security in all of Europe, the role of military organisa-tions has become more important than ever. In Ukraine, defence volunteers and civil activ-ists have played an extremely important part in ensuring the security of their families and the independence of their country. However, the increased role of volunteers poses challenges for the leaders of military organisations, who are responsible for ensuring smooth coopera-tion with civil society, as well as the skilful ap-plication of volunteer units’ potential in military or paramilitary actions.
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