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World

Estonia blames Russia for arson attack on defence company supplying Ukraine

Estonia says its security service has concluded the August arson attack on Milrem Robotics, whose unmanned ground vehicles serve in Ukraine, was commissioned by Russian security services; the Kremlin calls the claim unfounded.

By Sarah Whitfield · · 2 min read

Estonia said on Tuesday it had concluded that an arson attack on defence company Milrem Robotics in August was an act of sabotage commissioned by Russian security services.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said: “We can conclude with certainty that the arson attack … was an act of sabotage ordered by the special services of the Russian Federation.” A fire broke out overnight on 15 August at a building in Tallinn used by Milrem Robotics, but was quickly brought under control, according to the BNS news agency.

The Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) said the attack “was a deliberate and pre-planned act commissioned by Russian security services”, adding that its modus operandi was consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia, and that it “assesses that the attack is directly attributable to the Russian Federation”. Prime Minister Kristen Michal said the conclusion was based on information gathered by KAPO; Estonia did not disclose its evidence, citing confidentiality.

Milrem has supplied THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine. Two Latvian suspects were detained in Latvia on 17 August and a third the next day, and all were handed over to Estonia and remanded in custody.

The Kremlin dismissed the accusation. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “such statements are unfounded, ill-considered, absolutely not reflecting the reality, not containing any substantiation whatsoever”, adding: “We cannot take such statements seriously, and we won’t.”

Tsahkna said the perpetrators had been arrested and no longer posed a threat, and that Estonia was summoning Russia’s representative in Tallinn. NATO chief Mark Rutte said Russia was running “a reckless campaign of hostile actions against NATO allies”, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the case “extremely serious”.

Sources

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