In France, unidentified attackers threw Molotov cocktails at a Delair factory that manufactures drones and supplies them to Ukraine. The newspaper Le Parisien reported this, citing sources.
The facility is located near Toulouse in southwestern France. Delair is considered one of the country’s leading producers of civilian and military drones. After the start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the company became a supplier to Kyiv.
According to the newspaper, the attack took place in early June. Prosecutors in Toulouse opened a criminal case over destruction of property by means dangerous to people. Le Parisien said the plant suffered almost no damage because the incendiary mixture did not ignite properly.
A few days later, a Belarusian citizen was detained near the facility. According to the prosecutor’s office, he was filming a drone prototype. Investigators believe he sent the video to a person in Russia, and “advanced equipment” was allegedly found on him. He had reportedly been seen near the plant several times before his detention.
The man was ultimately jailed on suspicion of espionage. It remains unclear whether the attack on the factory and the detention of the Belarusian citizen are connected.
Since the start of the war, European countries have backed Kyiv, including through arms supplies. Russia condemns such assistance, especially military aid. Since then, authorities across Europe have regularly reported detentions of people suspected of spying for Moscow, as well as preparing or carrying out acts of sabotage.