Estonia blames Russian military intelligence for attempted arson at drone manufacturer
Estonian authorities say Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, orchestrated an attempted arson attack on Threod, a defense company that manufactures reconnaissance and attack drones and has worked with Ukraine.
Eight people residing in neighboring Latvia have been detained in connection with the attack, Estonia's public broadcaster ERR reported on November 15.
The attackers targeted Threod's facility in Viimsi, near Tallinn, at around 3 a.m. on November 14. According to Estonian authorities, they attempted to break windows and pour flammable liquid inside the building to start a fire and cause an explosion.
The attack was thwarted by the company's own security team. The building sustained damage, but no one was injured, and Threod's production and delivery capabilities remained intact.
Estonian Internal Security Service chief Margo Palloson said counterintelligence had confirmed Russia's involvement and identified the GRU as the agency coordinating the operation.
"This was yet another Russian attempt to carry out an act of sabotage in Estonia," Palloson said.
Estonian authorities detained eight suspects who reside in Latvia, although their citizenship has not been established. Prosecutors have asked a court to authorize the detention of five of them.
Prosecutor General Astrid Asi said the suspects came from different backgrounds and age groups. Preliminary evidence suggests they traveled to Estonia specifically to carry out the attack as a commissioned operation.
The investigation concerns activities against Estonia's security carried out on behalf of a foreign intelligence or security service. Latvian security authorities and prosecutors have assisted their Estonian counterparts.
Russian sabotage targeting Europe's defense industry
Palloson warned that defense manufacturers across Estonia and the wider European Union are targets for Russian intelligence operations.
According to the Estonian Internal Security Service, such attacks are intended to intimidate businesses and the public, disrupt defense production and technological development, and prevent military equipment and technology from reaching Ukraine.
Palloson said the GRU frequently recruits people already living in the European Union to carry out physical attacks and sabotage, taking advantage of their ability to travel freely within the Schengen Area.
Recruitment efforts often target people with criminal connections or those facing difficult economic circumstances, he added.
Threod manufactures long-range reconnaissance and attack drones. The company has previously reported cooperation with Ukraine, including supplying equipment for testing under combat conditions.