Estonia blames Russia for Milrem Robotics arson attack

SharpPost Editorial Team | 29 September 2026

Estonia publicly accused Russian intelligence services on September 29 of ordering the August arson attack on defence contractor Milrem Robotics. Its foreign ministry said it planned to summon Russia’s chargé d’affaires that day. Milrem supplies unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine. Three Latvian suspects have been handed over to Estonia and remanded in custody.

The ministry said it was certain of its assessment, based on information gathered by the Internal Security Service, but did not publish the underlying evidence. Authorities had previously been investigating possible Russian involvement. Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on September 29, citing the government, that the criminal investigation was continuing. Reuters noted in its August 19 coverage that Russia had repeatedly denied earlier allegations of sabotage in Europe.

A building used by Milrem on Betooni Street in Tallinn caught fire overnight on August 14–15. A local resident reported suspicious activity to the emergency services, and firefighters brought the blaze under control. The Estonian prosecutor’s office said on August 18 that nobody was injured, damage was still being assessed and investigators were examining arson and deliberate sabotage.

Latvia’s State Security Service announced on August 20 that three Latvian citizens had been arrested on August 17 and 18. Investigators searched seven locations, including homes and vehicles, seizing data-storage devices and items potentially used in the fire. The service was investigating suspected assistance to a foreign state in action against another country and destruction of property by arson. It did not disclose the contents of the seized material or its connection to Russia.

The three were transferred to Estonia on September 17–18. State prosecutor Gardi Anderson told ERR on September 22 that they were then suspected of damaging and destroying property, though the offences under investigation could change. Harju County Court had approved their detention.

Milrem chief executive Kuldar Väärsi told Reuters on August 19 that production, its supply chain and delivery schedules for 2026 and 2027 were unaffected. Janes reported on September 28 that the damaged building was not a production hall. During a September 23 press visit, capability development director Raul Rikk said Milrem could still meet customer requirements and was strengthening security.

Milrem’s THeMIS is a tracked unmanned ground vehicle used for tasks such as carrying supplies and evacuating casualties. The model it announced it had delivered to Ukraine in September 2022 was fitted with stretchers and went to a Ukrainian charity.

Milrem and VDL Defentec announced on June 4 this year the opening of a production line in Born, the Netherlands, for a Dutch-funded programme supplying more than 100 THeMIS vehicles to Ukraine. The first Dutch-built vehicles had been handed to the Netherlands’ government for onward transfer to Ukraine. The Born factory handles final assembly, with Milrem’s Dutch subsidiary and VDL coordinating deliveries.

Janes, citing the company’s September 23 briefing, reported that Milrem still expected to deliver more than 150 THeMIS vehicles to Ukraine by the end of 2026. That figure includes the 100 being assembled by VDL.