Russian agents busted in Lithuania for coordinating Europe-wide parcel explosions, IKEA fire
IKEA warehouse in Vilnius set on fire under Russian orders (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office and the Criminal Police Bureau have uncovered a group planning four terrorist attacks across different European countries, according to the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office.
Lithuania suspects the group of carrying out at least four attacks involving explosive devices sent via courier services DPD and DHL.
The attacks occurred on July 20, 21, and 22, 2024. A fourth device failed to detonate due to a technical malfunction.
The investigation revealed that the high-powered improvised incendiary devices were controlled by electronic timers hidden inside massage pillows, while additional flammable mixtures were concealed in tubes of hygiene and cosmetic products. The incendiary effect was achieved using thermite, a material used in industrial and military applications that burns at extremely high temperatures.
Who planned the attacks
During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that the crimes were organized and coordinated by Russian citizens linked to Russia’s military intelligence services, according to the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office.
Several of them were also directly involved in the attempted terrorist attack on May 9, 2024, in Vilnius, when an IKEA store was set on fire.
The Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office named several suspects: Ukrainian citizen Daniil Gromov, who also holds a Russian passport under the name Yaroslav Mikhailov; Lithuanian-Russian citizen Tomas Dovgan Stabačinskas; and Russian citizen Andrey Baburov. They have been placed on the international wanted list. Overall, the investigation believes the group involved in the bombings consists of 15 people.
It was also established that other citizens of Lithuania, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine were used to carry out individual tasks during the planning and preparation of the attacks. They were recruited via Telegram, offered payment, and paid in cryptocurrency.
Who is behind the IKEA arson in Vilnius
Earlier, the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office reported that Russian intelligence services were involved in the arson of the IKEA warehouse in Vilnius. For this, Russia recruited two Ukrainians. Lithuanian authorities classify the warehouse fire as a terrorist act. They established that the perpetrators were two Ukrainians under the age of 20, one of whom was a minor.
According to law enforcement, in spring 2024, the Ukrainians agreed during a secret meeting in Warsaw to carry out arsons and bombings in shopping centers in Lithuania and Latvia for €10,000.
The Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office believes that Russian intelligence deliberately targeted the IKEA warehouse because the company had made a significant contribution to supporting Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war and had also withdrawn from Russia.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that, in his view, Russia hired Ukrainians to attack Vilnius to sow division and weaken support for Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion.
