Lithuania Accuses Multinational Gang of Sabotage Attacks Orchestrated by Russia

Lithuanian Authorities Take Action Against Sabotage Attempts

Lithuanian authorities have accused Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, of orchestrating fire attacks against a unit that provides radio wave scanners for the Ukrainian army. On Friday, six individuals from Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Russia, and Belarus were detained and charged in connection with the 2024 attacks, each facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty, according to Chief Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis.

“The crimes were coordinated, and orders were given by a group of individuals residing in Russia who are linked to the Russian GRU,” stated Saulius Briginas, deputy chief of Lithuania's criminal police. There was no immediate response from Russia, which has repeatedly denied accusations of intensifying sabotage attacks in the region since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The group that coordinated the attack was composed of Colombian and Cuban citizens living in Russia, who attempted similar arson attacks in Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic. They targeted oil infrastructure in Romania, construction warehouses in Poland, as well as buses, a post office, and a cinema in the Czech Republic.

Lithuania has issued international arrest warrants for three additional individuals and is attempting to extradite a fourth person who was arrested in Colombia. All six detainees had ties to Russia, where they had studied, traveled, or had connections, Briginas noted at a press conference. They were reportedly paid between 5,000 to 10,000 euros for their actions, with Urbelis adding that “the perpetrators were primarily motivated by money.” Last year, Lithuania accused Russia of attempting an arson attack against an IKEA shopping center. Polish prosecutors last month accused a Russian in absentia of leading a group of saboteurs and spies as part of a suspected campaign to undermine Warsaw's strong support for Ukraine. Moscow dismissed such accusations, asserting that the West is inciting its people against Russia.