Estonia says an August arson attack on a Tallinn drone manufacturer supplying Ukraine was an act of sabotage commissioned by Russia's security services, drawing support from European and Nato leaders.
Estonia has accused Russia of ordering an arson attack on a drone manufacturer in Tallinn that supplies equipment to Ukraine, describing the incident as an act of sabotage commissioned by Moscow’s security services.
The attack took place in August, and Estonia’s assessment prompted a wave of support from European and Nato leaders for both Estonia and Ukraine, according to the Guardian.
Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said on social media on Tuesday that such attacks were “absolutely unacceptable.” He added that Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Tallinn was being summoned to his ministry.
According to Al Jazeera, the targeted company is Milrem Robotics, an Estonian firm that supplies unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.
Tallinn’s move to summon the Russian diplomat marks a formal diplomatic response to the accusation. The public backing from European and Nato partners underscores the alliance’s concern over reported sabotage on member-state soil.
The sources do not detail the extent of the damage caused by the fire or any further planned responses beyond the summoning of the chargé d’affaires.
Why it matters
The accusation adds to concerns about alleged Russian sabotage operations inside Nato member states, particularly those aiding Ukraine. Targeting a defence supplier signals an attempt to disrupt Kyiv's military support and tests how the alliance responds to such incidents on its own territory.