Estonia’s security services have confirmed that a June‑August arson attack on Milrem Robotics, a Tallinn‑based defence firm that supplies unmanned military vehicles to Ukraine, was carried out by a Russian special service. Prime Minister Kristiina Ojuland stated that the attack was ordered by Russian authorities, while foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said the flame‑setting was part of a broader Russian campaign to intimidate and weaken European support for Ukraine. Three suspects, identified as Latvian nationals who had resided in Russia, were arrested in Latvia and extradited to Estonia this month.
Russia denies the accusations and spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims as “baseless” and “unconnected to reality”. However, the incident follows a series of alleged Russian‑linked sabotage events across Europe, including a drone attack at Germany’s Leipzig airport, a fire at a defence factory in Bulgaria, and a suspected arson at a Ukrainian‑owned drone manufacturer in Slovakia. Experts describe these acts as hybrid warfare, blending cyber‑attacks, sabotage and misinformation to destabilise adversaries.
European leaders have responded strongly. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the escalation would only drive Russia toward a dead end, referring to the Leipzig incident and reaffirming France’s commitment to support Ukraine. NATO chief Mark Rutte urged calm within the alliance, calling Russia’s actions “reckless” and noting that they fail to undermine European unity or support for Ukraine. The EU stated that the bloc would continue to back Ukraine despite the growing threat of sabotage.
Milrem Robotics’ owner, Finnager Rahva, noted that the company remains fully operational and that the arson did not halt its supply chain to Ukraine, which has heavily relied on the company’s unmanned vehicles throughout the conflict. The Tallinn facility suffered significant but non‑fatal damage, and investigations continue into the individuals involved, with authorities warning that further sabotage attempts are likely unless deterrence measures are reinforced.
