Estonia to Close Russian Border Crossings After Blaming Moscow for Attempted Arson at Drone Maker
Authorities say eight suspects were detained after the foiled plot, and the closure is meant to curb hostile activity and sanctions evasion.
- 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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Foreign Minister of Estonia says the decision is due to Russia's sabotage attack on the country's defence industry. Still, fuel prices are coming down again tomorrow.
All border crossings will be closed from December 1. The reason for the decision was an attempted sabotage and arson at the building of the Estonian drone manufacturer Threod System.
The Estonian government accused Russia of trying to carry out a sabotage act against a drone factory on the outskirts of the capital, Tallinn, on Saturday morning. In addition to the arrests of eight suspects, the authorities announced the closure of the land border with the Russian side from December, in another episode involving threats attributed to Moscow in Europe, ranging from cyberattacks to potential conventional military actions.
Estonia has announced that it will close its border with Russia on 1 December. It denounces a Russian attempt to sabotage a drone factory. Estonia denounces a "hybrid war of Russia" against Europe and ensures that it will not be "intimidated". - Estonia closes its border with Russia after an attempt to sabotage (International).
On the night of November 14, Estonia attempted to set fire to the building of a defense company called Three Systems, which produces drones.
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