Estonian authorities have concluded that the fire at defense technology company Milrem Robotics in Tallinn was a deliberate act of sabotage commissioned by Russian security services.
The announcement was made on September 29, 2026, according to Estonian officials.
The arson took place on August 15 at a building used by Milrem Robotics, a company that supplies unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.
The fire was quickly brought under control and did not disrupt the company's supplies to Ukraine, its CEO said.
Two Latvian suspects were detained on August 17, and a third on August 18.
All three were later handed over to Estonian authorities for investigation.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal publicly attributed the attack to Russian special services, calling it part of a broader Russian campaign to intimidate European supporters of Ukraine.
Michal stated, "The arson attack against Milrem Robotics was ordered by Russian special services.
This is part of Russia's broader campaign across Europe to intimidate us and weaken our support for Ukraine.
It will not work.
Our response will be the opposite: stronger security at home, more support for Ukraine and greater pressure on Russia.
We will not be intimidated."
The Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) confirmed the attribution, noting the attack's modus operandi aligned with other Russian sabotage acts in Europe.
KAPO added that since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the agency and its partners have identified and apprehended more than 20 individuals involved in similar kinetic attacks on behalf of Russian security services.
KAPO warned that threats from Russian efforts to destabilize Estonia and undermine support for Ukraine will remain high in the coming years and urged defense and security sectors to maintain robust security measures.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the act as "absolutely unacceptable" and summoned Russia's charge d'affaires in Tallinn to his ministry.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denied any Russian involvement, calling the accusations "unfounded, ill-considered, absolutely not reflecting the reality, not containing any substantiation whatsoever."
He added, "We cannot take such statements seriously, and we won't."
Western officials have broadly accused Russia of conducting sabotage campaigns across Europe to destabilize countries supporting Ukraine.
Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, about 200 sabotage incidents attributed to Russia have been tracked, including arson, drone attacks, technology theft, and cyberattacks.
Milrem Robotics produces the THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles, which are used for supply delivery, ammunition hauling, casualty evacuation, and mine laying in Ukraine's defense efforts.
