Two Latvians and Ukrainian suspected of attempted arson at drone factory in Slovakia

Two Latvian citizens and a Ukrainian man are suspected of attempting to set fire to a Slovak drone factory owned by Ukrainian company Skyeton, according to Reuters. One suspect, a 26-year-old Latvian, was arrested in Hamburg, with his extradition currently being considered. The other two suspects were apprehended in Slovakia. All three individuals are currently in custody as the investigation proceeds.

On August 25, Slovak authorities foiled a planned arson attack on the drone manufacturing facility in eastern Slovakia. The information leading to the arrest of the suspects allegedly came from the Slovak Information Service and military intelligence. Police seized a substantial quantity of an incendiary substance during the operation, which was found to consist primarily of gasoline and polystyrene, ingredients commonly used to create napalm.

The three men detained on August 26 had allegedly planned to set the Skyeton plant ablaze. A mysterious group claiming to support a "peace movement" took responsibility for the planned attack. Skyeton manufactures drones for both civilian and military purposes in Ukraine and other nations. Prosecutors suggested Russia could be behind the plot, noting that Moscow often targets both Ukrainian production facilities and the reputation of defense companies.