Estonia plans to close its road crossings with Russia after an attack on drone maker Threod

Estonia plans to close its road border crossings with Russia from 1 December after an attempted arson attack on Threod Systems, an Estonian defence company whose technology supports British military drone programmes; Estonian authorities say the operation was ordered by Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.

The Estonian foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, announced the planned closures after eight Latvian residents were detained over the attempted attack on Threod’s premises in Viimsi, near Tallinn, in the early hours of Saturday.

The attackers intended to cause an explosion and set the building alight, according to Estonian officials. Threod’s security team intervened, preventing them from completing their plan. No one was injured, and the company’s production and delivery capabilities were unaffected.

The announcement moves Estonia’s response beyond preparations for a possible closure. The Estonian prime minister, Kristen Michal, had earlier asked the country’s interior minister, Igor Taro, and the Government Office to prepare the necessary steps.

A security team stops the attack

The attempted attack took place at about 3am. Margo Palloson, director general of the Estonian Internal Security Service, known as Kapo, said the perpetrators tried to break windows so that flammable liquids could be poured into the building.

Had the operation succeeded as intended, the damage to the company would have been substantial, he said. Estonia’s prosecutor general, Astrid Asi, credited Threod’s security team with preventing the attackers from carrying out their plan.

Palloson said counter-intelligence work had established that Russia was behind the operation and that it had been coordinated by the GRU.

“This was another attempt by Russia to carry out an act of sabotage in Estonia,” he said.

The eight suspects were detained in a joint operation by Kapo and the Police and Border Guard Board. All are residents of Latvia, although their citizenship has not been confirmed. Prosecutors have applied to have five remanded in custody.

Asi said preliminary evidence indicated that the suspects had been commissioned to carry out the attack and had travelled to Estonia for that purpose. They came from different backgrounds and included both younger and middle-aged people.

Investigators are examining how the operation was organised, the role of each suspect and possible connections to other individuals. Latvian security officials and prosecutors are assisting the inquiry.

An Estonian connection to Britain’s armed forces

Threod’s Cata B launcher supported the Royal Navy’s first strike drone launches from a British aircraft carrier during trials aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in the North Atlantic in October. The British-made Nyan Maritime drones, manufactured by Callen-Lenz in Wiltshire, were tested as part of plans to operate uncrewed aircraft alongside F-35B jets.

The company also said the UK Ministry of Defence had selected its Cata launcher for the British Army’s Asgard one-way attack drone programme, with a contract worth almost £5 million being prepared following trials in 2025. The system uses interchangeable adapters to launch different drone types from a single platform.

The attempted attack on Threod follows another case involving Estonia’s defence industry. In September, Kapo attributed an August arson attack against Milrem Robotics to Russian intelligence services.

Estonian officials say such operations are intended to intimidate businesses, disrupt production and technological development, and obstruct the supply of military equipment and technology to Ukraine.

Palloson said the GRU recruits people living in the European Union who can move freely within the Schengen area. Potential recruits are sought in criminal circles and among people facing financial and social hardship.

Border closures and wider European pressure

Tsahkna said closing the road crossings would reduce Russia’s ability to conduct hostile activities against Estonia and help curb sanctions circumvention.

“This is a clear step towards strengthening Estonia’s security and limiting Russia’s ability to exert influence,” he said.

The foreign minister has been in contact with his counterparts in Latvia, Lithuania and Finland about the planned closures. He will also discuss increasing pressure on Russia at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

“As long as Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine and threatens European security, we must increase pressure on all fronts,” Tsahkna said. “This means tougher sanctions, a stricter visa policy, and additional measures to limit Russia’s ability to pursue its objectives.”

Michal has convened the government’s security cabinet for Friday to review the incident, assess the sabotage threat from Russia and discuss further action.

The prime minister said defence companies had received warnings and recommendations on strengthening security both before and after the Milrem attack. Threod had followed that advice.

Urmas Paet, an Estonian member of the European Parliament, called for a coordinated European response, including stronger support for Ukraine, further sanctions, the use of frozen Russian funds for Ukraine’s benefit and restrictions on visas and border crossings.

Michal said Russia’s aim was to make Estonia afraid, encourage hesitation and weaken support for Ukraine.

“Estonia’s response is the opposite,” he said. “We will strengthen our security, work even more closely with businesses and our allies, increase pressure on Russia and continue supporting Ukraine.”