Russian sabotage in Europe: 22 suspects identified in parcel bomb plot

European law enforcement and intelligence agencies have announced a breakthrough in the investigation into a series of sabotage incidents that occurred at logistics centers in the European Union and the United Kingdom. British police and the prosecutor's office in Lithuania have officially confirmed that the Russian military intelligence service GRU was behind the operation to send parcels containing incendiary devices. The investigation revealed that the perpetrators used popular courier companies to transport dangerous items, such as electric massagers or household appliances, in which flammable substances and ignition mechanisms were hidden. The aim of these actions was to cause fires on board transport aircraft and in parcel sorting facilities, posing a direct threat to the safety of civilian air traffic. Only due to transport delays did these devices activate on the ground, not during flight, preventing potential large-scale aviation disasters. As part of coordinated international actions, a total of 22 people suspected of involvement in this activity have been identified. Lithuanian authorities reported that formal charges have been brought against five individuals who were directly involved in the logistics and sending of the parcels. While lower-level operatives have been apprehended in several countries, including Poland and Lithuania, the operation's coordinators residing in Russia remain at large. Polish investigators are also actively participating in these proceedings, pointing to connections between those detained and a wider sabotage network operating in Central Europe. The perpetrators' methodology relied on using unsuspecting intermediaries and false identities, which was intended to make it difficult to link the incidents to the Kremlin. Experts emphasize that this operation was carefully planned from a logistical standpoint to bypass standard cargo security checks. Since 2014, and especially after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian special services have intensified sabotage activities in Europe, including arson, acts of vandalism, and cyberattacks on the critical infrastructure of countries supporting Kyiv. These actions are interpreted by analysts as part of hybrid warfare, aimed at intimidating Western societies and disrupting supply chains. British services, including Scotland Yard, stress that evidence gathered during the investigation clearly points to state sponsorship of these attacks. Cooperation between Europol and national agencies allowed for the mapping of routes used by the parcel bombs, which in turn led to tightened security procedures at courier companies and airports. Efforts are currently underway to issue international arrest warrants for the operation's masterminds, though the chances of their extradition from Russian territory are close to zero. This situation forces NATO and EU countries to revise their strategies for protecting against asymmetric threats, which increasingly target the civilian sphere of public and economic life. „We can now confirm that our investigation has shown that Russian intelligence services were behind these attacks, and their aim was to cause significant damage and endanger life.” — Head of the British police (Metropolitan Police) counter-terrorism unit, coordinating the parcel investigation