Crisis exercise KILP begins in Virumaa

On Monday, the joint exercise KILP will begin in Virumaa, running from 28 April to 2 May, during which the Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB), in cooperation with the Defence League and the Defence Forces, will practice operating in a migration crisis. During the exercise, the Narva border crossing point as well as the PBGB service offices in Rakvere, Jõhvi, and Narva will be closed.

According to Indrek Püvi, the PBGB’s lead for the exercise, the aim of the long-planned joint exercise KILP is to practice various situations ranging from ordinary circumstances to a national defence crisis and a pre-war phase, in cooperation with the Defence League and the Defence Forces. “The threat of migration attacks has increased in recent years, and therefore it is necessary to practice for such situations also in Estonia. Although we have not been under the same pressure of migration attacks as, for example, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, or Poland, it cannot be ruled out that a similar scenario could be carried out against us,” Püvi explained.

“During the exercise, we will raise the readiness level and threat level of PBGB facilities, practice activities at area closure points, enhance border surveillance, cooperate with the Defence League in the border zone, and relocate PBGB operations to secure backup locations,” explained the PBGB’s lead for the exercise.

Due to the exercise, the Narva border crossing point will be temporarily closed from 30 April to 2 May, and the PBGB service offices in Jõhvi, Narva, and Rakvere will be closed from 29 April to 1 May.

“We are closing the border crossing point to rehearse, under as realistic conditions as possible, a situation where the border must be closed due to the threat of mass migration, and officers from the border crossing point are redirected to the border to address potential illegal entry attempts. The service offices will be closed to practice procedures at PBGB facilities under elevated threat levels,” Püvi explained.

From April 30 to May 2, travellers can use the Koidula and Luhamaa border crossing points, which are open 24/7 and allow vehicle crossings. During this period, document applicants can use the PBGB self-service portal to apply for documents and choose Selver stores as the pickup point.

During the exercise, the PBGB, in cooperation with the Defence League, will practice setting up area closure points on public roads in Ida-Viru County. A total of eight checkpoints will be established. Two of these will be located on the Tallinn–Narva highway, one on the Narva–Narva-Jõesuu–Hiiemetsa road, two on the Narva–Auvere road, one on the Jõhvi–Vasknarva road, and one on the Kauksi–Vasknarva road. Information about the exact locations of the checkpoints and traffic restrictions can be found on the Transport Administration’s portal Tark Tee.

In addition, due to the exercise, traffic arrangements will be changed on 30 April in the city of Narva (Tuleviku, Vestervalli, and Vahtra streets), in the city of Jõhvi (Rahu and Nooruse streets), and in the city of Rakvere (F. R. Kreutzwald street).

“We kindly ask people to follow the instructions of the organisers during the exercise and be aware that movement in certain areas may be disrupted or rerouted, which could result in longer travel times. It is also advisable to be prepared for the possibility that police officers and Defence League members may carry out random checks of documents, both for people and vehicles, in connection with the exercise. We will do this in the same way as in everyday police work,” said the PBGB’s lead for the exercise.

Information about the exercise can be found on the PBGB website at www.politsei.ee or by calling the information line 1247.

Martin Raid
PBGB Spokesperson
+372 5191 8772