In Europe, An Attempt Was Made To Set Fire To A Military Factory—the Fourth Such Incident This Month
- 26.08.2026, 15:49
The target of the sabotage was a company that manufactures drones for Ukraine.
According to law enforcement officials, two suspects accused of planning a sabotage operation were detained in Slovakia, and another was detained in Germany. There were no injuries or damage, reports Moscow Times.
About 70 employees were working at the facility, and the value of the property in the workshop amounted to tens of millions of euros. Police seized a flammable mixture, tools, cell phones, a video camera, and a map. The seized flammable mixture was napalm. The criminal investigation is ongoing.
The target was a drone factory belonging to the Ukrainian company Skyeton in the city of Prešov. Its office in Kyiv had already been destroyed as a result of a Russian attack in May 2026.
Skyeton has established production of Raybird drones in Slovakia through its subsidiary, Tropozond. The Raybird UAV transmits target coordinates in real time and integrates with the HIMARS, Caesar, and Krab artillery systems.
The company had been preparing for attacks in advance and had dispersed its production facilities across various regions of Ukraine and abroad. In 2025, Skyeton and the British defense company Prevail Partners announced the creation of a joint venture, Skyeton Prevail Solutions. The joint production facility in the United Kingdom was planned to employ 160 people. The company also collaborates with the Danish firm Quadsat.
Several incidents have occurred at facilities in Europe linked to arms deliveries to Ukraine.
On August 15, a building used by the Estonian company Milrem Robotics was set on fire in Tallinn. The company manufactures military robotics and supplies systems to Ukraine. Later, three of its citizens were detained in Latvia on suspicion of organizing the arson. Estonian authorities are investigating Russia’s possible involvement.
On August 13, at the KNDS Ammo Italy factory in Colleferro, near Rome, a powerful explosion occurred. The plant is part of the KNDS defense holding company, which supplies weapons to Ukraine. The plant near Rome produces ammunition for the army and navy. A subsidiary, KNDS Ukraine, operates in Kyiv and collaborates with the Ukrainian defense industry.
The fourth incident occurred on August 10. A fire broke out on the premises of the EMCO plant near the village of Belitsa in Bulgaria. About 300 employees were evacuated. EMCO is owned by Bulgarian arms magnate Emilian Gebrev. His companies have been supplying weapons to Ukraine since 2014. The cause of the fire at the ammunition depot is under investigation.