Spring Storm exercise focused on aiding civilians and combat casualties

“Units of the Estonian Defence League defend areas near their homes, and these units are small and dispersed. Therefore, our medical stations are not large field hospitals, but small stabilization points,” said Captain Diana Vänt, medical officer of the Estonian Defence League’ Headquarters logistics department. She noted that the Territorial Defence’s medical units have incorporated the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. “These points can be placed close to combat units, are concealed, and highly mobile. From arrival to receiving the first patient, it only takes 15 minutes for a trained team.”

During the exercise, a scenario was practiced where the medical stabilization point in Tali was overwhelmed with patients and unable to accept more wounded soldiers from the battlefield. As a result, volunteer medical staff had to quickly triage patients, provide on-site assistance, and depending on the injury, either send the soldiers back to their units or transfer them to the field hospital of the Estonian Disaster Relief Team in Paikuse area. Additionally, giving medical assistance to civilians affected by a chemical accident was practiced.

“This is not our first exercise – we have participated in two exercises Siil and at least one Spring Storm. I would say that this cooperation has improved year by year,” said Dr. Raido Paasma, chief doctor of the field hospital, under whose command volunteer medics from healthcare institutions across Estonia operated. “It doesn’t matter to us where the casualties come from; we provide them with medical assistance within our capabilities.”

Spring Storm is the largest annual exercise of the Estonian Defence Forces, during which military operations planning and execution are practiced, as well as enhanced cooperation between Estonian and allied units. The exercise involves active-duty military personnel, conscripts, reservists, members of the Estonian Defence League, and participants from allied nations. In total, nearly 14,000 troops take part of the exercise.

Spring Storm 2024 is part of the NATO exercise series Steadfast Defender 2024, representing a significant component of this extensive NATO exercise. Steadfast Defender 2024 is the largest NATO exercise in decades, with nearly 90,000 participants from all 32 member states participating over a six-month period from January to July 2024. The broader framework for the exercise has been set by confirmed NATO regional defence plans.

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