Baltics’ most modern shooting range opens in Võru County

Photo: Eesti Kaitsevägi

Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu and commander of the Kuperjanov infantry battalion Lt. Col. Maidu Allikas opened the new Tsiatsungõlmaa shooting range in Võru County, which will significantly improve training of conscripts, reported Ministry of Defence.

The 300-metre Tsiatsungõlmaa shooting range is the most modern in the Baltics. For the first time, the shooting range has an electronic target system, thanks to which it will be less time-consuming for trainees to score their results.

The range’s novel half-enclosed construction will also significantly reduce noise for residents and ensure greater safety. Whereas the shooting range had a 2.5-kilometre safety radius that proved inconvenient for local residents, the zone radius is now just 200 metres.

Reinsalu acknowledged the Võru municipality government for its conscientious attitude toward Estonian defensive capacity, calling it “statesmanlike.” “The Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces enjoyed superb cooperation with Võru municipality in establishing the shooting range. As a result, Võru municipality has gained a quieter and safer shooting range,” said Reinsalu at the opening of the shooting range.

According to commander of the Kuperjanov infantry battalion, Lt. Col. Allikas, up-to-par training is critical for strengthening Estonia’s defensive capabilities and ensuring the safety of soldiers. “As a small country, all of our soldiers must receive as high a quality of training as possible and the new shooting range opened today will contribute much to this cause,” said Lt. Col. Allikas.

The Tsiatsungõlmaa shooting range will be in use above all by Kuperjanov infantry battalion conscripts, Battle School students and local Defence Leaguers. Along with the shooting range, they now also have a brand-new classroom, field mess hall, tent sites and roads at their disposal.

The Ministry of Defence is investing 44 million euros into infrastructure this year, of which a majority is to be used for improving the living and training conditions for conscripts.