Latvia detains three over arson at Milrem Robotics building in Tallinn
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Estonian state prosecutor Gardi Anderson said on Aug. 19 that three people were detained in Latvia on suspicion of deliberately setting fire to a Tallinn building used by defense company Milrem Robotics. Two of the suspects have been remanded in custody, and sabotage has not been ruled out. The fire broke out overnight Aug. 14-15 and caused no injuries.
Key Facts
- Two of the three detained suspects have been remanded in custody, and Estonian prosecutors have not ruled out sabotage.
- The fire broke out on the night of Aug. 14-15 at a building used by Milrem Robotics and caused no injuries.
- Milrem Robotics CEO Kuldar Vaarsi told Reuters the fire did not affect production processes or supply chains and said the company plans to have more than 200 robotic systems in Ukraine by the end of 2026.
- Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said on Aug. 18 that officials were checking a possible Russia link to the fire, but no public evidence has been presented.
The Arson Investigation
Estonian state prosecutor Gardi Anderson announced the detentions on Aug. 19 and said investigators have not ruled out sabotage. Two of the three suspects have been remanded in custody, while Latvian and Estonian law enforcement are working on their transfer to Estonian authorities. The suspects' names and nationalities have not been disclosed. The fire occurred overnight from Aug. 14 to Aug. 15 at a building used by Milrem Robotics, and no one was injured. Milrem Robotics develops unmanned ground vehicles and robotic systems for military use, and its products are used in Ukraine.
Company and Government Response
Milrem Robotics CEO Kuldar Vaarsi told Reuters the fire did not affect production processes or supply chains. Vaarsi said the company plans to have more than 200 of its robotic systems in Ukraine by the end of 2026. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said on Aug. 18 that officials are checking a possible Russia connection to the fire. Michal said any attempt to intimidate Estonia, sow discord, or force it to stop supporting Ukraine will fail. Estonian officials have not yet presented public evidence confirming Russia's involvement, and the Russian embassy in Estonia did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
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Latvia detains three over arson at Milrem Robotics building in Tallinn
