Estonia attributes Milrem arson to Russian security services

KAPO warns Russian sabotage threat in Europe will remain high

Estonia’s national security agency Kaitsepolitseiamet (KAPO) on Tuesday assessed that an arson attack on robotics firm Milrem “was a deliberate and pre-planned act commissioned by Russian security services.”

In a statement, KAPO said “the modus operandi of the Milrem attack is consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia” and assessed the attack “is directly attributable to the Russian Federation.”

“Defence industry companies, particularly those involved in drone technology, as well as organisations supporting Ukraine, have been among the targets of Russian security services since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” KAPO said.

Since the beginning of that war, KAPO and its partners have identified and apprehended more than 20 individuals involved in kinetic attacks carried out on behalf of Russian security services, KAPO said. Russia continues to seek opportunities to conduct acts of sabotage and other hostile activities across Europe, according to the statement.

Individuals recruited for such operations “may be misled or manipulated and may be given false or fabricated justifications for their actions in an effort to conceal the involvement of the Russian state,” KAPO said.

The agency assessed that the sabotage activities are intended to undermine support for Ukraine among European allies and to support Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine.

“The Milrem attack demonstrates the continued need for industries, particularly those operating in the defence and security sectors, to maintain robust physical and cyber security measures and to remain alert to attempts to recruit individuals to carry out acts of sabotage,” KAPO said.

KAPO assessed the threat posed by Russian efforts to “destabilise Estonian society” and undermine support for Ukraine will remain high in the coming years. Estonia “remains a safe and secure country,” KAPO said, and the agency is “committed to doing everything necessary to keep it that way.”

KAPO said its assessment was based on the analysis of intelligence information and cooperation with domestic and international partners.