Arrest of suspects in the attempted arson of the Skyeton factory
In Slovakia, two Latvians and one Ukrainian were arrested on suspicion of attempting to set fire to the factory of the Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton. Slovak law enforcement has detained three suspects in this case, among whom the first suspect, a 26-year-old Latvian, was apprehended in Hamburg. The other two suspects—a Latvian and a Ukrainian—were detained directly on Slovak territory. All arrested individuals remain in custody during the investigation.
Actions of the suspects and Skyeton's reaction
The Slovak police reported that the suspects acted on commission. Responsibility for organizing the arson was claimed by a group called Global Citizens Against War 1984, which also demands the release of the two arrested individuals. Skyeton suggests that there may be Russian involvement in organizing this crime. The Skyeton factory in Ukraine produces goods for the Ukrainian military, while the facility in Slovakia is aimed at the European market.
Information about the planned attack was provided by the Slovak Information Service and military intelligence. The police seized a substantial amount of incendiary mixture, tools, mobile phones, an action camera, and a handwritten plan. Experts concluded that the incendiary mixture consisted of gasoline and polystyrene, referred to as napalm. At the time of the planned attack, about 70 employees may have been present at the facility.
'Russians regularly try to attack both our production facilities in Ukraine and our reputation. The recent attempt to attack our facility in Slovakia is further evidence that Ukrainian defense manufacturers have become a real thorn in their side.'
The case is still under investigation, and authorities hope that this arrest will help prevent similar incidents in the future.
This incident highlights the growing threat to Ukrainian defense enterprises that, despite the military actions in Ukraine, continue to operate in the international market. The arrest of the suspects indicates active measures by law enforcement in combating acts of terrorism that could threaten both economic stability and the safety of employees. Observers also note that this case could have wide-ranging international implications, as it relates to issues of security and stability in the region.