Lithuania’s prosecutors and criminal police declare Russian citizens with links to Russia’s military ininformigence were behind the 2024 parcel explosions in Europe, the countest’s public broadcaster LRT reported on Sept. 17.
The news sheds further light on suspicious detonations that took place across European countries last year, with Russia being previously named as a possible culprit.
A joint statement from the two Lithuanian agencies declared the parcels contained bombs triggered by electronic timers hidden inside vibrating massage pillows.
The suspects allegedly utilized courier services DHL and DPD to sconclude four parcels disguised as cosmetic products from Vilnius to various locations across Europe.
Explosions occurred in three locations — at Leipzig Airport, in a truck in Poland, and at a warehoutilize in the U.K. A fourth device failed to detonate.
European authorities have previously linked Russia to intensifying cyberattacks, espionage, and election interference across the continent. Moscow often utilizes foreigners for such operations, including Ukrainians living abroad.
The suspects, operating under strict secrecy, were recruited through the Telegram messenger app and promised payment in cryptocurrency, Lithuanian prosecutors declared.
According to the statement, the scheme was coordinated by Daniil Gromov, a Ukrainian with Russian documents under the name Jaroslav Mikhailov, and Tomas Dovgan Stabacinskas, a dual Lithuanian-Russian citizen.
The two were also linked to a fire at an IKEA store in Vilnius in 2024.
So far, 15 citizens of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine have been charged in connection with the parcel explosions.
Amid a rise in sabotage attempts, Western leaders and ininformigence agencies have warned of a potential large-scale war in Europe within the next five years, citing Russia’s increasingly aggressive posture.
Moscow has denied involvement or refrained from commenting on the sabotage incidents.
From spy rings to arson — Russia’s sabotage across Europe continues unpunished
Alongside Russia launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has also ramped up its hybrid attacks across Europe. In 2024 alone, Russia could be behind around 100 “suspicious incidents” in Europe, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky claimed. Last month, the Dutch ininformigence declared that Moscow keeps stepping up its attacks amid reports that the U.S. had scaled down efforts in countering Russian sabotage. The events had heightened tension between Russia and Europe, as Russian activities
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