Estonia says Russian military intelligence ordered arson attempt on Threod drone factory

What happened

Estonian authorities say Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, commissioned an attempt to set fire to Threod Systems, a drone maker in Viimsi, a town just outside Tallinn. The attempt took place in the night of 14 November, when intruders tried to break into the building early on Saturday with the aim of starting a fire and causing an explosion, Prosecutor General Astrid Asi told a press conference on Sunday. The company's own security personnel intervened and prevented the attack from succeeding, leaving only minor property damage. Nobody was injured. Threod makes long-range reconnaissance and attack drones, and some of its products have been delivered to Ukraine.

Eight suspects and the investigation

Prosecutors announced on Sunday, 15 November, that eight people had been detained in connection with the case. All eight are residents of neighboring Latvia, and five of them have been remanded in custody. Margo Palloson, head of Estonia's security police, said counterintelligence findings showed the GRU coordinated the attack. He described it as another attempt by Russia to organize an act of sabotage in Estonia. According to him, the company would have suffered serious damage had the attackers carried out the plan as they had designed it. The investigation into the attempt, which took place on Saturday, 14 November, is still ongoing.

Suspects detained8

Remanded in custody5

Suspects detained

8

Remanded in custody

5

Data from the article text

An earlier attack on a defense supplier

The Threod case follows an arson attack on Milrem Robotics in August, a company that supplies unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine. Estonian authorities formally blamed Russian intelligence for that incident in September. Several Latvian nationals were arrested over the Milrem attempt. The Internal Security Service, known as KAPO, has warned that Moscow is increasingly targeting European defense manufacturers in order to disrupt military production and deliveries to Ukraine.

Border closure under consideration

Prime Minister Kristen Michal wrote on X that the attack was part of a broader hybrid war Russia is waging against Europe, aimed at reducing support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia. He said Estonia would not be intimidated, and he framed the border question as a response to the risk that Russian intelligence uses border crossings to influence people. Michal said the country was preparing for the possibility of closing the border.

“Estonia is preparing for the possibility of closing its border with Russia to reduce the risks to our people and national security.”

Earlier, Michal discussed the option with Interior Minister Igor Taro and asked him to prepare the necessary steps. Michal argued that closing the border would lower the threat to people in Estonia and signal that attacks on the defense industry are unacceptable. The defense ministry added its own message on X, pledging continued support for Ukraine.

“Together with our allies, we will continue supporting Ukraine and standing firm against Russian aggression.”

No decision on closing the border has been reported so far.