Part 4/10:
The Initial Offensive: Chaos in the Baltics
The offensive commenced with devastating missile strikes across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, targeting critical infrastructure: airports, military facilities, and command centers. As chaos enveloped the skies, NATO scrambled its forces in a desperate attempt to respond, but the damage was extensive, and the element of surprise had swung heavily in Russia's favor.
The battle for Estonia saw severe losses for the defenders. Lieutenant John Lucas of the Estonian Ground Forces recalled the pandemonium his unit faced, cut down by the relentless Russian onslaught. Despite their bravery, the defenders were pushed back, buying only time for reinforcements to regroup.