Army SUV headed for Ukraine named after late journalist Teet Korsten

The Humvee is a powerful, rugged military off-roader that has been in service for four decades and remains capable of crossing almost any terrain. Many people still confuse it with the Hummer, but according to Roman Muttik of the NGO SAB UA, the Hummer is a civilian version of the combat vehicle, while the original military HMMWV – the Humvee – is the best vehicle for soldiers.

Once inside, the first thing a passenger notices is a wall in the middle of the cabin; the engine and gearbox are hidden there to keep the floor flat, leaving substantial space between driver and passenger. There are no touchscreens or audio systems – conditions are deliberately spartan. The driver’s area is simple, the seat is comfortable, there is enough room, and the steering wheel resembles that of an old tractor.

This particular Humvee made a long journey to Estonia. Volunteers from SAB UA bought it at an auction in Canada for 35,000 Canadian dollars. Paperwork and transportation took a year and a half. Muttik stressed that the vehicle’s main value is its ability to reach any point and bring fighters out of any trouble, while maintaining enough speed to evade drones in modern warfare.

Under the hood is the legendary 6.2-liter diesel V8, a simple and forgiving engine that can run on low-quality fuel. Consumption is roughly 30 liters per 100 kilometers, but fuel economy is not the priority for military equipment. The SUV has no seat belts.

The vehicle also carries a symbolic meaning: it is named in memory of journalist Teet Korsten. He was expected to drive it to the handover point, but died suddenly on July 5. Military journalist Arkady Babchenko recalled that Korsten, a Postimees journalist, had taken part in the previous large Baltic convoy and was excited about joining again with the Humvee. In his honor, the vehicle was given the name "Teet." Korsten’s daughter Mirjam came to put her father’s name on the body. She said her father valued both Estonian and Ukrainian freedom; last year he traveled with a humanitarian convoy to Ukraine and sent her a postcard from Kyiv, expressing hope they would one day visit the city together.

Soon the Humvee will head to Ukraine under its own power, to the 109th Battalion of Crimean Tatars named after Devlet Gerai. The assault battalion will use it on the front line, and Babchenko hopes it will serve for a long time.