Estonia accuses Russia of arson attack on defence firm supplying Ukraine
Multiple outlets report that Estonia has blamed Russia for a fire that damaged a Tallinn-based defence company that produces vehicles and drones for Ukraine. The incident is part of a series of alleged sabotage actions targeting NATO members that support Kyiv, though details of the investigation remain limited.
First reported 4 hours ago · latest update 58 minutes ago
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Estonian authorities said Tuesday that an arson attack carried out last month on a defense company that provides military vehicles to Ukraine was an act of sabotage commissioned by Russian security services.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that “such actions are absolutely unacceptable” and that Russia’s charge d’affaires in Tallinn was being summoned to his ministry.
A fire broke out overnight on Aug. 15 at a building in the Estonian capital used by Milrem Robotics, but was quickly brought under control, the BNS news agency reported. On Aug. 17, two Latvian suspects were detained in neighboring Latvia, and a third followed the next day. The suspects were handed over to Estonia.
Milrem has supplied THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.
The Estonian Internal Security Service said that it has concluded that the arson attack “was a deliberate and pre-planned act commissioned by Russian security services.”
It said in a statement that “the modus operandi of the Milrem attack is consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia,” adding that it “assesses that the attack is directly attributable to the Russian Federation.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “such statements are unfounded, ill-considered, absolutely not reflecting the reality, not containing any substantiation whatsoever.”
“We cannot take such statements seriously, and we won’t,” Peskov said.
Moscow has been widely accused by Western officials of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations.
The Associated Press has tracked around 200 incidents of sabotage and malign activity across Europe blamed on Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
That includes organizing plots to set fire to warehouses, launching drones and trying to kill enemies abroad as well as stealing defense technology and carrying out cyberattacks on critical European infrastructure.
In a recent case that pointed to an escalation of such activity, Germany blamed Russia for an attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in early August using a drone laden with explosives.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal wrote on X that “we will not be intimidated.”
Citations · 3 reports from 3 outlets
Tap a citation to read it above, right here on T.A.M.
Estonia blames Russia for arson attack on defense company that provides vehicles to Ukraine - AP News
Estonia blames Russia for arson attack on defense company that provides vehicles to Ukraine AP News
4 hours agoEstonia blames Russia for arson at defence company supplying Ukraine
Russia has been accused of launching sabotage attacks across a number of European Nato countries which have been helping Ukraine.
2 hours agoEstonia blames Russia for arson attack on drone maker supplying Ukraine
European and Nato leaders express support for Estonia after August attack on manufacturer in TallinnEurope live – latest updatesEuropean and Nato leaders have expressed full support for Estonia and Ukraine after the Baltic state said an August arson attack on a drone manufacturer supplying Kyiv was an act of sabotage commissioned by Moscow’s security services.Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said on social media on Tuesday that such attacks were “absolutely unacceptable” and that Russia’s chargé d’affaires in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, was being summoned to his ministry. Contin…
58 minutes ago · Jon Henley Europe correspondent and agencies