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Estonia summons Russia's chargé d'affaires over an August arson attack on Milrem Robotics that it says was sabotage ordered by Moscow's security services.
Estonia has summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires in Tallinn to its foreign ministry after concluding that an August arson attack on a drone manufacturer supplying Kyiv was an act of sabotage commissioned by Moscow's security services. Foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said on social media on Tuesday that such attacks were absolutely unacceptable.
Estonia Accuses Russia of Sabotage
Estonia's national security agency said a fire broke out on 15 August at a building in Tallinn used by Milrem Robotics, which makes unmanned ground vehicles used in Ukraine. Two Latvian suspects were detained in Latvia on 17 August, followed by a third the next day. All three were handed over to Estonia, it said.
Tsahkna said the subsequent investigation had led authorities to conclude with certainty that the attack was an act of sabotage ordered by the special services of the Russian Federation. It was part of a broader campaign across Europe.
Estonia's prime minister, Kristen Michal, said his country's response to Russia's campaign would be the opposite: stronger security at home, more support for Ukraine and greater pressure on Russia.
Estonia has repeatedly accused Russia of hybrid provocations since the beginning of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and, along with its fellow Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania, has significantly increased its defence spending.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said Estonia's allegations were unfounded, ill-considered, absolutely not reflecting the reality, not containing any substantiation whatsoever. He said Russia cannot take such statements seriously, and we won't.
Western Allies Pledge Support to Estonia
Western allies pledged their continued support to Estonia and Ukraine. Speaking in Brussels, Mark Rutte, Nato's secretary general, said Russia continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against Nato allies, adding that it was failing on the battlefield in Ukraine, and failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine.
Speaking alongside Rutte, Lithuania's prime minister, Mindaugas Sinkevičius, said Russia's actions were becoming increasingly hostile and less restrained. We see the hybrid attacks in Lithuania, Poland, Germany, elsewhere. And it's not a question of proximity now, it's a question of Russia's actions.
Lithuania's foreign minister, Kęstutis Budrys, said Russia's fingerprints were all over the Tallinn attack, while the Latvian president, Edgars Rinkēvičs, said further support for Ukraine will be needed, and must be provided.
The EU said it stood with Estonia, describing the arson attack as reckless and saying it would not be put off supporting Ukraine. Moscow is trying to scare Europe into winding down its support for Ukraine. This will not happen, a European Commission spokesperson said.
France's president, Emmanuel Macron, called the arson attack a dangerous escalation. Moscow needs to know that it will not overcome our unity or our determination to continue supporting Ukraine, Macron said on social media.
Sweden's acting prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, called Estonia's formal attribution of the attack extremely serious, and Britain's ambassador to Estonia, Jo Lomas, said the UK stands with Estonia in confronting these unacceptable attacks. They will not weaken our resolve or our support for Ukraine.
Broader Campaign of Russian Sabotage in Europe
About 200 incidents of suspected Russian sabotage and malign activity have been recorded across Europe since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, including arson plots at warehouses, drone incursions, thefts of defence technology and cyber-attacks on essential European infrastructure.
The Tallinn arson attack is part of what Estonia describes as a broader campaign across Europe, which has included similar incidents in Lithuania, Poland and Germany. The coordinated response from Western allies underscores the growing concern over Russia's hybrid tactics.
Estonia's formal attribution of the attack to Russian special services marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Baltic state and Moscow, which have been strained since 2022. The support from Nato and the EU highlights the alliance's commitment to collective defence.
Estonia Russia Milrem Robotics Margus Tsahkna Nato Arson Attack Tallinn
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