Estonia accuses Russia of attempted arson attack on defense firm

Detailed summary

“Estonia is preparing for the possibility of closing its border with Russia,” said Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

Estonia has accused Russia's military intelligence service of ordering an attempted arson attack on an Estonian drone maker, prompting Tallinn to threaten to close its border with Russia.

Intruders were found at Threod Systems in Viimsi, outside the Estonian capital, shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday trying to break into the building with the aim of setting it on fire and causing an explosion, Prosecutor General Astrid Asi said Sunday.

Writing on X, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said: "This is part of Russia’s broader hybrid war against Europe, with the aim of decreasing support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia. We will not be intimidated."

He added that "Estonia is preparing for the possibility of closing its border with Russia to reduce the risks to our people and national security."

Threod's security staff stopped the attack before it could cause significant damage, authorities said. Eight suspects, all residents of neighboring Latvia, were detained. Five have been remanded in custody.

Estonia's Internal Security Service, known as KAPO, said intelligence gathered by its officers showed the attack was commissioned by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. Threod makes long-range reconnaissance and attack drones.

"We will not be intimidated. Together with our allies, we will continue supporting Ukraine and standing firm against Russian aggression," Estonia's defense ministry said in a statement on X.

The latest attempt follows an August arson attack on Milrem Robotics, which supplies unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine. Estonian authorities formally blamed Russian intelligence for that incident in September.

KAPO has warned that Russia is increasingly targeting European defense manufacturers to disrupt military production and deliveries to Ukraine. The investigation into Saturday's attempted attack remains ongoing.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Politico Europe. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.