Image Credentials: Image Title: Russia-Backed Network Behind Explosive Parcels in Europe, Lithuanian Prosecutors Say Source: (Sora.ChatGpt) Date: September 2025. Attribution: Created using AI-generated imagery (Sora.ChatGpt), this does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
Lithuanian authorities have uncovered what they describe as a Russia-backed sabotage network responsible for sending explosive parcels across Europe. Officials announced Wednesday that 15 individuals have been charged in connection with the operation, which allegedly involved arson plots and the use of courier services to transport improvised explosive devices.
According to the prosecutor general’s office in Vilnius, the investigation revealed ties between the suspects and Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU. The network reportedly orchestrated the shipment of incendiary devices disguised inside everyday objects, including massage pillows and cosmetic tubes. The devices were loaded with thermite, a highly flammable chemical mixture.
💥🕵️ NEW INVESTIGATION: We reveal the ringleader of the GRU’s parcel-bomb plot—a Russian radioactive-materials smuggler—trace the explosives’ route across NATO borders, and show how the GRU recruited Russians and Ukrainians in the West. @michaeldweiss https://t.co/1H0EBzmdEJ
— Szabolcs Panyi (@panyiszabolcs) September 17, 2025
On July 19, 2024, four parcels were posted by a member of the network. Two were sent via DHL to the United Kingdom. One exploded inside a Birmingham warehouse, while the other failed to detonate due to a technical defect. The other two parcels, sent through the courier company DPD, reached Poland but combusted in transit. One ignited at a logistics hub in Leipzig, Germany, while the other caught fire in a delivery truck driving through Poland.
The prosecutor general’s office confirmed that suspects from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine are implicated. International arrest warrants have been issued for three individuals still at large. Over 30 coordinated searches in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Estonia uncovered six kilograms of explosives.
Authorities also linked the network to a 2024 arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius. Investigators now believe last year’s parcel explosions may have been trial runs for a broader Russian operation targeting cargo planes bound for North America.
The revelations highlight growing concerns in Europe about covert sabotage operations allegedly supported by Moscow. Officials in Lithuania stressed that the investigation remains ongoing, with cooperation from security agencies across the continent.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.