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KEVADTORM 2019 ~ Jõhvi Still Stands

An Estonian THeMIS UGV operator awaits Yellow Force attackers as daily life goes on in Jõhvi [©BM]

Yellow Force planned to capture Jõhvi on Thursday 10th May but, as all switched-on readers of this website should know, no plan survives first contact with the enemy, reports Bob Morrison.

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Unfamiliar with the, mostly forested, terrain their troops were passing through the Yellow Force commanders (primarily Latvia-based Canadians from eFP BG LAT and Lithuanians) were ultra-cautious with their advance. The Estonian Blue Force troops defending Jõhvi, on the other hand, know this area well as do the Estonia-based Belgian and British troops from eFP BG EST who were blocking Yellow Force probes from the south-east and south. As dusk fell the city of Jõhvi was still under Blue Force control and the attackers were rethinking their options. Today, however, will no doubt be a different story as blue skies gave way to rain overnight.

Postscript: Yesterday, 9th May, was Victory Day in Russia and in a restaurant in Jõhvi last night I met two Estonian Russian veterans of the 1980s Afghanistan War who were remembering fallen colleagues. One of the guys, who spoke good English, served three years as a combat medic. Naturally, I joined them in raising a glass to old soldier friends of all nationalities who are no longer with us.

[ images © Bob Morrison ]

An Estonian Blue Force fire team leader with anti-armour missile guards a road junction on the outskirts of the city [©BM]
Belgian Blue Force Piranha III in a hamlet south-east of Jõhvi [©BM]
Dismounted Blue Force British infantry from 1 MERCIAN patrol south of Jõhvi alongside their Warrior [©BM]
British Blue Force AS90 deployed south-west of Jõhvi [©BM]
Yellow Force LAVs of the Royal 22e Régiment (the Van Doos) advancing down forest tracks to the east of Jõhvi in the late afternoon [©BM]

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