From 2003-2014, Estonia participated in Afghanistan under the NATO mission, International Security Assistance Force; this selection of pictures tells a little story of the Estonian soldiers in Afghanistan.*
The Estonian Defence Forces were active in Afghanistan since 2003, serving along the British forces in the restless Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. The first contingent to serve in Afghanistan was the mine clearance group.
The Estonian contingent, which normally consisted of about 150 professional soldiers, comprised of an infantry company (ESTCOY), national logistics assistance element, military police close protection unit and staff officers. Nine Estonian soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan and 102 were injured, 25 of them seriously.
The contingent was regularly rotated, but as the Western allies, operating under the NATO umbrella, were about to withdraw from Afghanistan completely, the last Estonian contingent, ESTCOY-17, came back home in May 2014. However, a small number of Estonian military personnel remained in the country until June 2021.
After the Western allies withdrew from Afghanistan, security responsibility was handed over to local security forces, but the Islamist movement, the Taliban, recaptured the whole Afghanistan swiftly by 15 August 2021.
This selection of pictures tells a little story of Estonia’s international soldiers in Afghanistan from 2003-2014.
ESTCOY-16 soldiers and a Royal Air Force’s Chinook in 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu.A RAF Chinook taking off, after dropping ESTCOY-16 soldiers in 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Estonian soldiers at Camp Bastion. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Ready for operations. Photo by Kristel Maasikmets. Finding a common ground with the locals, in 2011. Estonian female soldier and the local kids in 2011. Estonian soldiers patrolling in 2011. ESTCOY-16 soldier on patrol in 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. ESTCOY-16 sniper in 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Estonian solider in 2011. Photo by Sgt Steve Blake RLC (British Army). A moment to breath and reflect. ESTCOY-16 soldiers in 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. ESTCOY-9 soldiers in 2010. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. An Estonian soldier keeps a watchful eye on the local market from a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle in 2012. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Estonian MRAP vehicle patrolling a local market in 2012. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Celebrating Christmas. Photo by Hannes Võrno.
Estonians cannot live without a sauna; this one, at Camp Bastion, was specially converted for Estonian soldiers, from an old sea container.
How far is the home? Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. A local dog, domesticated by British soldiers, wearing a blue, black, and white collar – the tricolour of Estonia.Nightwatch. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Mingling with the locals. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu.Checkpoint. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Communication with the locals is crucial. Photo by Kristel Maasikmets, 2012. Patrolling. Photo by Kristel Maasikmets, 2012.Patrolling. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Reading letters from home. Photo by Hannes Võrno. Remembering the fallen on Estonian Victory Day, in 23 June 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu. Remembering the fallen. Nine Estonian soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan. ESTCOY-14 soldiers in 2012. Photo by Kristel Maasikmets. Embarking on a Chinook at sunset. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu.
* This article was originally published on 13 April 2014, lightly edited on 16 August 2021.
All photos courtesy of The Estonian Defence Forces, except where otherwise stated.Cover photo:ESTCOY-16 soldiers departing from a RAF Chinook in 2013. Photo by Arvo Jõesalu.
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