A planned attack on a defense manufacturer has raised fresh questions about foreign involvement and the security of Europe’s military supply chain.
In Slovakia, law enforcement thwarted an attempt to set fire to a facility owned by the Ukrainian company Skyeton, which manufactures reconnaissance and strike drones. The plant is located in the eastern part of the country.
Three suspects were detained in the case: two Latvian nationals and a Ukrainian citizen. One of the Latvians, a 26-year-old man, was detained in Germany. He is expected to be extradited to Slovakia.
Suspects found with incendiary mixture and attack plan
Two other suspects were detained directly in Slovakia. They will remain in custody while the investigation is underway.
During investigative actions, law enforcement officers seized an incendiary mixture and a plan to set fire to the plant. Preliminary information suggests that the men may have been acting on behalf of third parties.
Skyeton suspects a Russian connection
Skyeton said that Russia may be involved in the attempted attack. The Slovak facility is focused on manufacturing products for Western markets.
Earlier, on August 23, reports emerged about a new wave of Russian attacks on European defense companies. According to those reports, Russian military intelligence may be recruiting local members of criminal groups for such operations.
The investigation into the attempted arson at the Skyeton plant in Slovakia is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are working to identify those who ordered the attack and determine the suspects’ possible connections.