Estonia slams Russian 'sabotage' after arson attack on defence company

Estonia slams Russian 'sabotage' after arson attack on defence company In short: Estonian investigators have determined that Russia was involved in a factory fire where drones were manufactured for Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied allegations it is trying to intimidate its Baltic neighbour. European and NATO allies have condemned Russia for what they say is a "reckless campaign" against European countries. EU and NATO leaders are rallying in support of Estonia and Ukraine after the Baltic country accused Russia of "sabotage" in an August arson attack on a drone manufacturer, a claim the Kremlin immediately rejected. The revelations have outraged Estonia's government, with the country's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, accusing Moscow of aiming to "intimidate us and [weaken] our support for Ukraine. "We can conclude with certainty that the arson attack … was an act of sabotage ordered by the special services of the Russian Federation," he said on X. Mr Tsahkna said an investigation into the August 15 arson attack against the defence company Milrem Robotics, which makes ground drones used in Ukraine, determined that Moscow was responsible. The findings caused immediate condemnation from Estonia's military allies. "Russia continues its reckless campaign of hostile actions against NATO allies. It is trying to weaken our resolve and stop our support for Ukraine," NATO chief Mark Rutte said. "But Russia is failing. It is failing on the battlefield in Ukraine and it is failing to undermine our unity and support for Ukraine." Kremlin denies involvement The Kremlin swiftly dismissed Estonia's accusation as "baseless" and with "absolutely no relation to reality". "We cannot and will not take such statements seriously," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow in response to an AFP question. Estonia has repeatedly accused Russia of hybrid provocations since the beginning of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Along with its neighbours, Latvia and Lithuania, the country has ramped up defence investment and remains a staunch ally of Kyiv. The European Union said it stood with Estonia calling the arson attack "reckless", and would not be put off supporting Ukraine. "Moscow is trying to scare Europe into winding down its support for Ukraine. This will not happen," European Commission spokesman Christian Wigand said. French President Emmanuel Macron also called the arson attack a "dangerous escalation" by Russia, and another in a "multiplication of these hostile acts". "Russia needs to know that it will not overcome our unity or our determination to continue supporting Ukraine," Mr Macron said on X. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics added that "more support for Ukraine … will be needed and must be provided". Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the attribution of the attack "extremely serious" and "directed against Europe as a whole". AFP