Estonia accuses Russia of arson attack on defence company supplying weapons to Ukrainian army

Estonia's Internal Security Service has established that an arson attack on a building used by defence company Milrem Robotics in Tallinn on the night of 14-15 August was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian secret services.

Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Internal Security Service concluded that the arson attack in Tallinn's Lasnamäe district was an act of sabotage and part of a broader Russian campaign in Europe aimed at intimidating Ukraine's allies and reducing support for the country.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that they could now say with complete confidence that the arson attack on the Milrem Robotics building in Estonia on the night of 14-15 August had been an act of sabotage commissioned by the secret services of the Russian Federation.

A criminal investigation is continuing to establish the precise circumstances of the incident, although early reports had also indicated that the crime had been orchestrated by someone.

The suspects in the arson attack have been detained and remanded in custody and no longer pose a threat.

Margo Palloson, director general of the Internal Security Service, said the threat of Russian provocations and attempted acts of sabotage remains.

Palloson said that Russian secret services continued their attempts to recruit and exert influence in Europe, including for the purpose of carrying out acts of sabotage. He added that organisations supporting Ukraine and defence industry companies were at heightened risk and that the Internal Security Service recommended that they strengthen their physical and cyber security measures.

He added that Estonia's security services are closely monitoring Russia's activities and working closely with both companies in Estonia and international partners.

Background:

• A fire broke out on the night of 15-16 August in a Tallinn building used by defence company Milrem Robotics.
• Three suspects in the arson attack were detained in Latvia and subsequently handed over to Estonia.
• Defence company Milrem Robotics, in cooperation with European Union countries, supplies Ukraine with THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles.
• Meanwhile, Slovakia's opposition is demanding explanations from the government and Prime Minister Robert Fico over reports in the German media linking an attempted attack on a Ukrainian drone manufacturer in Prešov to Russian military intelligence.

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