Attempted arson at Slovak drone factory targeted Skyeton: Ukrainian among those detained – Reuters

Two Latvian citizens and a Ukrainian have been identified as suspects in an attempted arson attack on a drone factory in Slovakia operated by Ukrainian company Skyeton.

Source: Reuters

Details: According to a spokesperson for the regional prosecutor's office in the Slovak city of Prešov, the planned arson attack in eastern Slovakia targeted a facility belonging to drone manufacturer Skyeton.

According to the German public prosecutor's office, one of the suspects – a 26-year-old Latvian citizen – was arrested in Hamburg. Proceedings for his extradition to Slovakia are currently underway.

Two other suspects, a Latvian and a Ukrainian, were detained in Slovakia. A local court ordered on Thursday 27 August that they remain in custody while the investigation continues.

Slovak law enforcement authorities said the suspects had been acting on someone else's orders, but did not identify who was behind the planned attack.

A little-known group calling itself "Global Citizens Against War 1984" claimed responsibility for the attempted arson. The group demanded the release of the two detained suspects in a statement sent to Reuters.

Slovakia's Interior Ministry declined to comment on the group's statement.

Skyeton, meanwhile, believes Russia was behind the sabotage attempt.

Quote from Skyeton: "The Russians ⁠regularly attempt to attack both our production facilities in Ukraine and our reputation. The recent attempted ​attack on our facility in Slovakia is further proof that ​Ukrainian defence ⁠manufacturers have become a real thorn in their side."

Details: The company said its Slovak plant produces drones for Western markets, while its facilities in Ukraine are entirely focused on meeting the needs of the Ukrainian defence forces.

Background:

• On Tuesday 25 August, Slovak police reported that they had foiled a planned arson attack on a drone manufacturing plant in the eastern part of the country.
• During searches, the police seized a large quantity of incendiary material, tools, mobile phones, a camera and a handwritten plan of the facility. Investigators said around 70 people would have been at the site at the time of the planned attack and that potential losses could have amounted to tens of millions of euros.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!