24 August (BNS) – Two Estonian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan Sunday afternoon while carrying out their duties.
The soldiers were Sgt. Maj. Eerik Salmus (26) and Sgt. Raivis Kang (26), pioneers of the Estonian Estcoy-8 infantry company.
Maj. Peeter Tali, head of the information department at the Estonian Defence Forces headquarters, told BNS that rebels against the constitutional government of Afghanistan attacked the pioneers’ armoured personnel carrier with an improvised explosive device at about two kilometres from the Pimon patrol base in the Nad-e-Ali area of the restless Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.
The Estonian pioneer unit was clearing the road of explosives. Sgt. Maj. Salmus died immediately in the attack; Sgt. Kang sustained grave injuries and medics were not able to save his life.
The 1st Infantry Brigade has informed the soldiers’ families of the incident, said Tali, expressing sincere condolences to their relatives.
Sgt. Maj. Salmus launched on his military career as a conscript at the Tapa training centre. He continued his service as a professional soldier in the Pioneer Battalion and later as squad leader and pioneer in the Scouts Battalion. In 2008 Salmus took part as squad commander in a field operation in Afghanistan in the composition of Estcoy-5 and was wounded there. He has been decorated with the Meritorious Service Cross.
Sgt. Raivis Kang entered military service in 2003 as a conscript at the Narva-Jõesuu Border Guard training centre. He continued his service as submachine gunner, head of armoured personnel carrier and ordnance clearance specialist. Sgt. Kang took part in field operations in Afghanistan in 2006 in the composition of Estcoy2 and in 2007-08 in Estcoy-5.
At present there are two Estonian infantry companies, Estcoy-8 and Estcoy-2, a logistics support group NSE-7, staff officers and staff non-com officers serving in Helmand. Estcoy-8 operates under British command; Estcoy-E, which has been dispatched to Afghanistan to ensure security of the elections, serves under the command of the 2nd Brigade of US Marines.
In total, the Estonian contingent in Afghanistan consists of 289 men.
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