Companies, governments and security agencies urged to strengthen cooperation
Europe’s defense industry is calling on companies, governments and security authorities to work more closely to anticipate and prevent sabotage after a series of suspicious fires and explosions at defense-linked facilities across the continent.
The Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe, which represents more than 4,000 companies in 22 countries, warned that the growing number of sabotage incidents and attempted attacks targeting defense-related organizations requires heightened vigilance throughout the sector.
The organization said industry, governments and security authorities must jointly monitor evolving threats, share information and introduce appropriate measures to protect facilities and maintain safe, resilient operations.
European officials increasingly point to Russia
The warning comes as European officials increasingly accuse Moscow of preparing or coordinating clandestine operations against defense infrastructure.
Denmark’s counterintelligence chief said Russia was actively preparing acts of sabotage targeting the country’s defense industry. According to the official, companies involved in providing military support to Ukraine were particularly valuable targets.
In Germany, authorities directly blamed Moscow for an alleged failed sabotage attempt at Leipzig/Halle Airport. A drone carrying explosives was reportedly discovered near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft.
At the end of August, a major fire broke out at the premises of WB Electronics, one of Poland’s largest private arms manufacturers. The company produces drones used by Ukrainian forces.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the fire had been deliberately started and suggested that it was likely carried out on behalf of Russia.
“This is a continuation of Russia’s escalating actions throughout the region,” Tusk said, warning that the incidents were not isolated and would likely not be the last.
Dozens of suspicious incidents recorded since 2018
A study published in August 2025 by a London-based strategic affairs institute documented dozens of questionable incidents across Europe since 2018. The assessment said the likelihood of Russian involvement ranged from “realistically possible” to “almost certain.”
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied responsibility for incidents in which Russia has been identified as a possible perpetrator. Moscow described Germany’s recent allegations as a “fabricated provocation.”
Against this backdrop, several European defense companies have reassessed their security measures, although many have declined to disclose details publicly because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Rheinmetall adapts security measures
A spokesperson for German defense company Rheinmetall said federal and state security authorities had observed an increasingly aggressive posture toward NATO countries since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
In response, the company reassessed the security situation at each of its sites on a risk-based basis and adjusted protective measures where necessary.
Rheinmetall said its security strategy enables it to respond quickly to changing threat scenarios. In July 2024, reports citing US intelligence indicated that the company’s chief executive, Armin Papperger, had been targeted in an alleged assassination plot organized by the Russian government. Moscow rejected the report as fake.
Fires and explosions hit facilities in Bulgaria and Estonia
On August 10, a truck caught fire at the storage facility of Bulgarian arms manufacturer EMCO, which has previously exported Soviet-era ammunition to Ukraine. The fire was followed by explosions that spread through the warehouse and ultimately destroyed the facility.
Bulgarian authorities are investigating the incident to determine its causes and gather evidence. The company said similar incidents had occurred in 2011, 2022 and 2023.
EMCO representatives warned that without genuine cooperation among all European Union and NATO countries, the phenomenon could intensify. The company said such explosions inevitably disrupt normal operations, but that resolving the problem depends primarily on state authorities.
Several days later, overnight on August 14–15, another fire broke out at a building housing Estonian company Milrem Robotics, one of the main manufacturers of uncrewed ground vehicles destined for Ukraine.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described the incident as arson and said one line of investigation involved possible sabotage and Russian involvement.
Milrem Robotics said its security measures are continuously reviewed in response to changes in the operating and security environment. The company declined to discuss specific protections at its facilities but said the incident had not affected daily operations or existing customer orders.
Ukraine warns of a broader conflict
The director general of Ukrainian defense company Ukraine Armor said he believed the sabotage operations could foreshadow a wider conflict between Russia and NATO countries.
In his view, the alliance must respond before the threat expands. Among the first measures, he called for the identification and expulsion of Russian operatives operating in Europe.
The incidents highlight the vulnerability of critical defense infrastructure and the need for unprecedented cooperation among industry, intelligence services and national authorities. For European governments, the challenge is no longer limited to protecting factories and storage facilities. It also involves preventing a destabilization campaign designed to undermine military support for Ukraine and weaken NATO cohesion.
