Prime Minister Michal opens large-scale crisis exercise ILVES 2026

Estonia's largest comprehensive national defence crisis exercise ILVES 2026 began its main week today. Prime Minister Kristen Michal launched the exercise with a call to the emergency number 112, which initiated a flooding rescue drill. The exercise involves 150 organisations.

One of Estonia's largest crisis exercises, ILVES 2026, began today, with its main week bringing together 150 different organisations that will practise crisis management and cooperation between various agencies.

The opening address for the large-scale exercise was given by Prime Minister Kristen Michal, whose call to the emergency number 112 from the exercise command centre launched both a flooding rescue drill and the full week of ILVES 2026 activities.

ILVES 2026 is a comprehensive national defence exercise designed to test and strengthen Estonia's preparedness for crisis situations. The exercise encompasses cooperation between various government agencies, emergency services, local authorities, and private sector organisations.

Such regular crisis exercises have become an integral part of Estonia's security policy, ensuring that different agencies can cooperate effectively in times of crisis and share resources. The participation of 150 organisations demonstrates how comprehensive Estonia's approach to national defence is.