Estonia blames Russia for arson at defence company supplying Ukraine

What the report says

Estonian officials say Russia was responsible for an arson attack on Milrem Robotics, a Tallinn-based defence company that makes unmanned military vehicles and supplies Ukraine. Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the blaze was ordered by Russian special services, while Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the attack was carried out on the night of 14–15 August and amounted to sabotage linked to Moscow’s wider pressure campaign in Europe.

According to the BBC, Estonia’s Internal Security Service gathered the evidence used to make the accusation. Security chief Margo Palloson said the case was the first successful hostile act this year that Estonia attributed to Russian-linked operatives. Authorities said the alleged perpetrators had been arrested, with three suspects detained in Latvia and later extradited to Estonia. Palloson said the suspects were Latvians who had previously taken part in other attacks.

Russia denied the claims, repeating its rejection of similar accusations across Europe. The BBC noted that Estonian and European officials see the incident as part of a broader pattern of suspected sabotage against Nato countries supporting Ukraine, including fires, drone incidents and other disruptive acts reported in recent months. EU and Nato leaders backed Estonia’s position, saying such pressure would not weaken support for Ukraine.