Estonia is weighing a closure of its border with Russia after the Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) assessed that Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, ordered an attempted attack on drone maker Threod Systems.
Prosecutors said the attempt occurred Nov. 14 and involved a plan to damage the building with fire and an explosion. Authorities detained eight suspects, whom Prime Minister Kristen Michal's office described as residents of Latvia. Prosecutors sought pretrial detention for five of those detained; government statements did not report a court decision.
The government said the incident caused no injuries and did not interrupt Threod's production or deliveries. Prosecutors said the company suffered no significant damage. Threod lists unmanned aircraft, electro-optical technology and launchers among its product areas. It identifies itself as an Estonian defense technology firm and says it was founded in 2012.
The GRU attribution is KAPO's intelligence assessment, not a court finding. Prosecutors said investigators are determining each suspect's role and whether other people were connected to the attempt. They said KAPO believes Russian intelligence targets defense companies to frighten the public, weaken production and technological development, and hinder defense products and technology from reaching Ukraine.
The government connected the case to an August arson attack on Milrem Robotics, a separate Estonian defense company. KAPO assessed in September that Russian intelligence services had commissioned that attack.
Michal discussed a possible border closure with Interior Minister Igor Taro and asked Taro and the Government Office to prepare the necessary steps. He argued that closing the crossing could lower risks for Estonian residents and signal that attacks on the country's defense sector were unacceptable. Michal also said Russian intelligence services exploit border crossings to influence people inside Estonia.
The government has announced neither a closure decision nor an implementation date. The Security Cabinet is scheduled to receive a briefing on the incident and sabotage threat and discuss further steps Friday.
