Estonia has accused Russia of ordering an arson attack on defence company Milrem in August, alleging that a Russian national carried out the attack at the direction of Russian military intelligence. The allegation adds to a series of claims across Europe of Russian-directed sabotage operations.

Officials said the suspect was arrested and accused of acting on orders from Russian intelligence services. Milrem is a defence firm whose unmanned ground vehicles have been supplied to Ukraine, making it a notable target in the context of the war.

The charge comes amid heightened European concerns over hybrid warfare, including arson, cyberattacks and other covert operations attributed to Moscow. Russia has not responded to the specific allegation in the reporting available so far. Estonia, a NATO member bordering Russia, has been among the most vocal states in flagging what it describes as a pattern of Russian sabotage across the continent. The development is likely to feature in upcoming NATO discussions on countering covert threats, with Tallinn pressing allies for a coordinated response to state-backed sabotage.