What happened
Estonia's Minister of Defense, Martin Herem, has warned that revealing the names of defense companies supplying Ukraine would expose them to threats from Russia. This is in response to a call from Taavi Veskimägi, the head of the defense industry council, to make the names of these companies public.
Veskimägi argues that the public has a right to know which companies are receiving state funding to support Ukraine, and that this information could help to promote a better understanding of Estonia's defense capabilities. However, Herem believes that disclosing the names of these companies could put them at risk of being targeted by Russian special services.
In 2025 and 2026, Estonia purchased €200 million worth of defense industry products from Estonian companies to support Ukraine. Veskimägi claims that dozens of Estonian defense industry products have proven themselves on the battlefield in Ukraine, and that the state should help ensure the security of these companies.
Herem has stated that he would only consider disclosing the names of the companies if they themselves request it, and that the current agreement is not to disclose this information. The debate highlights the tension between promoting transparency and protecting the security of Estonia's defense companies.
