Estonia to Close Russian Border Crossings After Blaming Moscow for Attempted Arson at Drone Maker
Authorities said the foiled arson plot involved eight detained suspects and no significant damage, while Estonia cited growing hybrid threats from Russia.
- On Saturday, November 14, eight Latvian citizens were detained after attempting to break into Threod Systems' property in Viimsi, north of Tallinn, to start a fire at 3.06 a.m. The drone manufacturer's security team thwarted the incident.
- The Estonian Internal Security Service assessed that the attempted attack was carried out on orders of Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU. Officials believe the sabotage was part of a coordinated campaign targeting Estonia's defense sector.
- Prime Minister Kristen Michal requested officials "prepare the necessary steps" to potentially close the Estonian-Russian border, stating the measure would "reduce the risks to our people and national security." The move reflects heightened concern over Russian operations.
- This incident follows an August arson attack on Milrem Robotics, which officials also attributed to Russian special services. Prime Minister Michal characterized the pattern as "part of Russia's broader hybrid war against Europe, with the aim of decreasing support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia."
- Estonian Interior Minister Igor Taro recently urged European governments to stop referring to Russian covert attacks as "hybrid incidents," arguing that arson, sabotage, and cyberattacks against defense sites constitute "state-sponsored terrorism." Taro estimated Russia accounts for roughly 90 percent of Estonia's internal security threats.
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265 Articles
The Russian military intelligence service is supposed to be behind an attempted arson attack on a drone manufacturer in Estonia. Therefore, the government in Tallinn wants to close all borders to the neighboring country on 1 December.
"After obtaining clear evidence that the Russian military intelligence service GRU ordered an act of sabotage against a defence industry company, Estonia will close all border crossings between the two countries from 1 December," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced on social networks.
After an attempted attack on the building of the drone manufacturer Threeod Systems, Estonia now closes its borders with Russia. The government in Tallinn speaks of "clear evidence that the Russian military intelligence service is behind the attack.
Estonia will close all its border crossings with Russia from December 1, the Baltic country's foreign minister announced on Sunday. The decision was made after an attempted sabotage attack on an Estonian defense company, which Tallinn says was carried out by Moscow.
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