Slovak police have thwarted an attempted arson attack targeting a drone manufacturing facility operated by the Ukrainian company Skyeton in the city of Presov, according to law enforcement authorities. Three suspects have been detained in connection with the planned sabotage—two in Slovakia and a third in Germany—while officials confirmed that no injuries or material damages occurred during the operation.
Police Seize Napalm and Arrest Sabotage Suspects
Law enforcement officials seized an incendiary mixture, tools, mobile phones, video cameras, and operational plans during the intervention. According to police data, the recovered incendiary substance was confirmed to be napalm. The targeted facility employed approximately 70 workers, and the equipment inside the production hall was valued at tens of millions of euros, according to published reports. The criminal investigation remains active.
Skyeton Production Networks and Military Integration
The targeted facility belonged to Skyeton, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer whose Kyiv office was previously destroyed during a Russian attack in May 2026, according to reporting by the news portal Denník N. Skyeton organizes the production of its Raybird unmanned aerial vehicles in Slovakia through its subsidiary, Tropozond. Raybird drones transmit target coordinates in real time and integrate directly with HIMARS, Caesar, and Krab artillery systems, based on industry data.
To mitigate security risks, Skyeton dispersed its manufacturing capacities across multiple regions in Ukraine and abroad. In 2025, Skyeton partnered with British defense firm Prevail Partners to establish a joint venture named Skyeton Prevail Solutions, which plans to hire 160 employees in the United Kingdom. The company also collaborates with Denmark’s Quadsat.
Recent Sabotage Incidents Across European Defense Facilities
The Slovakian incident is part of a broader wave of security breaches and arson attacks across European manufacturing plants supplying Ukraine. On August 15, an arson attack struck a facility in Tallinn used by Estonian firm Milrem Robotics, which builds military robotic systems for Ukraine. Estonian authorities are investigating potential Russian involvement, and three Estonian citizens have been detained in Latvia in connection with that fire.
On August 13, a powerful explosion occurred at the KNDS Ammo Italy plant in Colleferro near Rome. The facility manufactures ammunition for land and naval forces as part of the KNDS defense holding, which supplies Ukraine and operates a subsidiary in Kyiv named KNDS Ukraine. Four days earlier, on August 10, a fire broke out at the Emco military enterprise near the village of Belitsa in Bulgaria, forcing the evacuation of roughly 300 workers.
Intelligence Warnings and Western Assessments on Hybrid Warfare
Former Bulgarian Defense Minister Boyko Noev stated that the explosions at the Emco plant were likely intentional and argued that Bulgaria consistently fails to properly investigate such security breaches. Emco is owned by arms entrepreneur Emilian Gebrev, who survived a poisoning attempt in 2015. Bulgarian authorities eventually charged three Russian nationals—Denis Sergeyev, Sergey Lyutenko, and Egor Gordienko—in 2020, linking four military warehouse explosions to Russian military intelligence officers (GRU).
According to reports from the Daily Telegraph citing western intelligence sources, Russia has initiated a new campaign of attacks against European arms factories by recruiting local gang members to test NATO’s resolve. Bloomberg reported that the European Union remains largely unprepared for this escalation in hybrid warfare, maintaining an overly reactive and defensive posture. Agnia Grigas, a visiting fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted that NATO and European states focus primarily on detecting individual provocations rather than establishing a consistent deterrent mechanism against Moscow.
Did you know? European intelligence agencies have tracked repeated incursions by unidentified and military drones into European Union airspace since last year, alongside explosive devices found near transport aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August.
Frequently Asked Questions
What company was targeted in Slovakia?
The target was a drone manufacturing plant operated by the Ukrainian company Skyeton in the city of Presov, utilizing its Slovak subsidiary Tropozond to build Raybird unmanned aerial vehicles.
Who is suspected of orchestrating these sabotage operations?
Western intelligence sources and media reports indicate that Russian military intelligence and operations are utilizing local proxies to test NATO’s resolve through coordinated hybrid warfare tactics across Europe.
What other European facilities have experienced recent security incidents?
Recent incidents include an arson attack at Milrem Robotics in Estonia, an explosion at a KNDS ammunition plant in Italy, and fires at the Emco military enterprise in Bulgaria.
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