NATO ally foils arson attack on drone factory — and says Russia is to blame

Estonia says it foiled an attempted arson attack on Threod Systems, a major drone manufacturer, and accuses Russia’s GRU military intelligence service of ordering it. The alleged plot prompted Estonia to announce that all border crossings with Russia will close from 1 December, which its foreign minister described as a consequence for hostile actions.

Eight people, all from neighbouring Latvia, were detained on suspicion of sabotage early on Saturday; prosecutors have sought arrest warrants for five. Estonian authorities say a swift police response prevented major damage, while Russia has not commented and has previously denied involvement in sabotage. The accusation follows a separate arson attack on Estonian arms maker Milrem Robotics in August, also blamed by Estonia on Russian intelligence.