Russia-Ukraine war: Estonian parliament declares Russia a 'terrorist regime'

The Estonian parliament has adopted a resolution declaring Russia a “terrorist regime” this week. The Estonian parliament’s move follows that of Latvia and Lithuania months back.

The Estonian parliament Tuesday voted to adopt the resolution that would declare Russia a terrorist regime as well as condemn the claimed annexation of four partially occupied Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. 88 lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution, while 10 were absent, and three abstained among the 101-member parliament.

The resolution said Vladimir Putin’s “regime, with its threats of a nuclear attack, has turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and in the whole world.” The Estonian parliament also said that it considered it “necessary to define the armed forces of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics established by the Russian Federation as well as the Wagner private military company as terrorist organizations.”

“Supporting the appeal of the Parliament of Ukraine to countries and international organizations, the Riigikogu declares Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a country that supports terrorism, whose actions we must confront together. The Riigikogu calls on the international community to adopt similar declarations,” said the statement.

Estonia’s declaration follows Lativa and Lithuania in taking similar measures. The Latvian parliament designated Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism” back in August, and Lithuania took a similar measure in May.

The Baltic countries are the staunchest supporters of Ukraine and are the most vocal critics of the Kremlin.

The United States previously warned to hold Russia accountable for “war crimes” while taking action against companies and nations that are working with Iran’s drone program following the recent attacks on cities in Ukraine.

Russian drone attacks killed at least four people in an apartment building in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv while also cutting the power of hundreds of towns and villages.

“Right now, there is a new drone attack,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly address Monday. Zelenskyy added that Ukrainian forces have shot down some of the drones. Kyiv said the attacks were done with “kamikaze” drones, known as Shahed-136s that Russia reportedly purchased from Iran. Tehran has denied supplying Russia with drones.