ILVES 2026 sheltering exercise started in the Riigikogu

A sheltering exercise, which led to a recess in the sitting of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), began at Toompea Castle as part of the large-scale nationwide comprehensive defence exercise ILVES 2026 (LYNX2026).

The sheltering exercise means that the members of the Riigikogu, the staff of the Riigikogu Chancellery, and guests in the building – that is, everyone in Toompea Castle – must go to the nearest shelter located within the building complex.

Due to the exercise, a recess was declared in the sitting of the Riigikogu. During the exercise, guests cannot enter the Riigikogu buildings.

The purpose of a sheltering exercise is to assess how quickly and smoothly everyone in the castle can reach the shelters located within the building on a typical workday, and to identify any shortcomings in the current sheltering plan that may need to be addressed.

“Conducting this exercise does not mean that Estonia’s security situation has recently deteriorated sharply. This is an exercise that has been planned long in advance,” President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar said. “I very much hope that we will never actually have to experience such sheltering or such a situation. But at the same time, we must under no circumstances become so comfortable, lazy or indifferent that we would not think through and practice for such situations and would not be prepared for them if necessary.”

The nationwide comprehensive defence exercise ILVES 2026 takes place across Estonia from 8 to 12 June, and thousands of people from more than 150 organisations are participating in it. The exercise involves state agencies, local governments, companies and volunteers, and its goal is to practice leadership and cooperation in resolving various crisis situations and ensuring the continuity of the state and society.

Preparations for ILVES 2026 have been ongoing for almost a year. The exercise will focus on how to successfully deal with influence activities by a hostile state, including situations like information operations, large-scale public disorder, sabotage, explosions and drone threats. The Emergency Act provides for the regular organisation of such exercises and drills, and states that nationwide crisis-management exercises must be carried out at least once every four years.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu/

Riigikogu Press Service
Urmas Seaver
+372 631 6350, +372 503 9907
[email protected]

Questions: [email protected]