In a statement that has intensified security concerns across NATO countries, a Lithuanian presidential adviser on Tuesday accused Russian military intelligence of being behind explosive parcels sent from Lithuania to various European countries. Kestutis Budrys, adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, alleged that Moscow orchestrated these acts as part of a broader campaign aimed at destabilizing European allies of Ukraine.
The incidents involved packages that burst into flames at courier depots in Britain, Germany, and Poland, causing damage and even posing risks to aircraft safety. “We are telling our allies that it’s not random; it’s part of military operations,” Budrys said during an interview with Ziniu radio. He called for immediate action to “neutralize and stop it at the source, and the source is Russia’s military intelligence.”
These remarks represent the first time a Lithuanian official has explicitly blamed Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency for orchestrating this specific form of sabotage. Budrys’s comments follow a report by Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza in October, which detailed how parcels that caught fire in courier depots had been traced back to Lithuania. Among the incidents was a fire in a truck near Warsaw and fires at courier depots in Birmingham, U.K., and Leipzig, Germany.
British and German security agencies have since been investigating the incidents. The German government recently disclosed that one package burst into flames mid-flight on a plane, narrowly avoiding what could have been a significant disaster. British security officials are also concerned, with MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warning in October of Russia’s GRU actively attempting to create “mayhem” across Britain and Europe.
Budrys urged Lithuania’s NATO allies to view the incidents as coordinated attacks rather than isolated events. The incendiary packages align with a series of unexplained fires, cyber-attacks, and acts of sabotage across Europe over the past year, many of which Western intelligence agencies have attributed to Moscow. These actions, analysts suggest, are aimed at undermining the stability of countries that support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
In response to the findings, Poland has taken significant steps, including the detention of four individuals linked to the investigation into explosive parcels. Authorities allege that the scheme extended beyond Europe, with plans to send similar packages to North America. Poland also shut down the Russian consulate in the western city of Poznan, citing security concerns and suspected sabotage attempts by Russian operatives.
Reuters attempted to reach Budrys for further comment, but he was unavailable. The Russian government also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The recent allegations from Lithuania are expected to add urgency to discussions among European and NATO officials about countermeasures to address threats posed by Russian intelligence operations. The incidents underscore a growing concern among Western nations over the potential reach and impact of sabotage activities linked to Moscow, particularly as Russia continues its campaign against Ukraine.
