Estonia Accuses Russia of Sabotage After Arson Attack on Defence Firm

Estonia has accused Russia of orchestrating an arson attack on Milrem Robotics, a defence company in the capital, Tallinn, describing the incident as part of Moscow's alleged campaign of hostile actions across Europe.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on Tuesday that authorities had concluded that the August attack was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian intelligence services.

“We can conclude with certainty that the arson attack … in Tallinn was an act of sabotage ordered by the special services of the Russian Federation,” Tsahkna said in a post on X.

According to the minister, those allegedly responsible for the attack have been apprehended and “no longer pose a threat”. He also said Estonia had summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident.

Tsahkna linked the attack to what he described as Russia's broader efforts to intimidate European countries and weaken their support for Ukraine.

The Kremlin has rejected the accusation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Estonia's claim as baseless, saying it had “absolutely no relation to reality”.

“Such statements are baseless, ill-considered, have absolutely no relation to reality, and lack any form of reasoning. Consequently, we cannot and will not take such statements seriously,” Peskov told reporters.

NATO allies express support

The accusation has drawn support from several of Estonia's European allies.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Russia continued what he described as a campaign of hostile actions against NATO member states.

“Russia continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against NATO allies. It is trying to weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine,” Rutte told journalists.

He added that Russia was failing to undermine NATO's unity and support for Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Estonia, saying the reported pattern of hostile actions represented a dangerous escalation.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys also backed Estonia, saying Russia's alleged hostile activities extended beyond Ukraine's borders.

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics called for continued support for Ukraine, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described Estonia's attribution of the attack to Russia as “extremely serious”.

Estonia on NATO's eastern flank

Estonia, a member of both NATO and the European Union, borders Russia and has been among the European countries most vocal about security concerns following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have increased defence spending and strengthened cooperation with NATO allies amid concerns over regional security.

The latest dispute comes as European governments continue to accuse Russia of conducting or supporting various forms of hybrid activity, including alleged sabotage, cyber operations and influence campaigns.

Moscow has repeatedly rejected such accusations.

The competing claims over the Tallinn arson attack come against the backdrop of the wider confrontation between Russia and European countries over the war in Ukraine and Western military and political support for Kyiv.

Source: ALJAZEERA