Slovak police foil arson plot targeting Ukrainian drone maker, media report

What happened

According to the Kyiv Independent summarizing reports by Slovak local outlet Dennik N, Slovak police detained three foreign nationals on August 25 over an alleged arson plot targeting Skyeton, a Ukrainian-owned factory producing advanced surveillance drones in Slovakia. Two suspects were arrested in Slovakia and a third in Germany under a European arrest warrant. Authorities did not disclose the suspects' nationalities.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The alleged arsonists reportedly planned to set fire with an incendiary mixture identified as a homemade napalm-like substance made from gasoline and polystyrene, intending to cause a large-scale fire at the facility where around 70 workers were present. The property damage potential was valued at tens of millions of euros. Police seized incendiary materials, tools, phones, an action camera, and a hand-drawn map of the factory.

Skyeton had announced plans to open this production plant near Presov in spring 2024, with expectations to employ up to 200 people by the end of 2025. The factory is part of Ukrainian efforts to expand domestic and EU-based military manufacturing capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Known from the source

• Slovak police detained three foreign nationals on August 25 over an alleged arson plot targeting Ukrainian-owned Skyeton drone factory.
• Two suspects arrested in Slovakia, one in Germany on a European arrest warrant.
• Incendiary materials included gasoline, polystyrene (homemade napalm), tools, phones, and a hand-drawn factory map.
• Approximately 70 people were present at the factory during the plot.
• Skyeton plans to open the factory near Presov in spring 2024, aiming to employ up to 200 by end of 2025.

What remains unclear

This incident is reportedly among the first known arson attempts targeting military equipment producers in Slovakia. Such sabotage attempts have reportedly increased across the EU since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with similar attacks on defense companies reported recently in the Czech Republic and Estonia. Russia is known to recruit foreign nationals and citizens for destabilization operations within NATO and EU countries, although no direct link to Russia is confirmed in this case.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of suspects' nationalities and backgrounds. Official confirmation or denial from Skyeton regarding the arson attempt. Further confirmation from Slovak police or government on details of the plot and arrests.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.