RismadarVoice Reporters
September 29, 2026
Estonia has accused Russian security services of orchestrating an arson attack on a defence company in Tallinn that supplies unmanned military vehicles to Ukraine, an allegation Moscow has denied.
The Estonian Internal Security Service, KAPO, said on Tuesday that its investigation found the August 15 fire at facilities used by Milrem Robotics was a deliberate and pre-planned attack allegedly commissioned by Russian security services.
The overnight fire at a building used by the defence company in Tallinn was brought under control shortly after it started.
Milrem Robotics manufactures unmanned ground vehicles, including the THeMIS system, which has been supplied to Ukraine during its war with Russia.
Estonian authorities said three Latvian nationals were detained in neighbouring Latvia shortly after the incident and subsequently handed over to Estonia.
KAPO said the method used in the attack was consistent with other acts of sabotage that European authorities have attributed to Russian operations.
The agency said it considered the incident directly attributable to Russia but has not publicly released the evidence underpinning its assessment, citing the confidential nature of security investigations.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the incident and said Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Tallinn would be summoned over the allegations.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said Estonia would not be intimidated by what his government described as hostile activity.
Russia rejected the accusation, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing Estonia’s claims as unfounded and questioning the basis for the allegation.
Moscow has repeatedly denied Western accusations that Russian security services are behind sabotage operations across Europe.
The incident comes amid heightened concern among European governments over suspected covert operations targeting defence facilities, infrastructure and other strategic interests since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
