While You Sleep, Russia Plots Explosions at Your Airports
Russian terrorism continues to metastisize all over Europe, with Russian special services again caught attempting to blow up cargo flights in several EU nations.
According to German media reports, European intelligence agencies believe that Russia’s GRU military intelligence service was responsible for a series of coordinated package explosions at airports in Germany, Poland, Lithuania the United Kingdom during the summer of 2024.
The attacks took place over three consecutive days in July 2024 and were part of a broader international sabotage operation involving at least ten individuals. The incidents were investigated jointly by German media outlets WDR, NDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The first incident occurred on July 20, when a parcel ignited at Leipzig Airport in Germany. Similar fires followed at Warsaw’s international airport on July 21 and Birmingham Airport in England on July 22. A fourth package destined for Poland was intercepted before detonation.
Investigations revealed that all four packages originated from Lithuania and contained magnesium-based explosives hidden in everyday items such as cosmetic tubes and sex toys.
Intelligence officials believe the operation was orchestrated by GRU personnel, including high-ranking officers. One alleged organizer is Colonel Denis Smolyaninov of the GRU, who was sanctioned by the European Union in December 2024.
Instead of relying exclusively on trained agents, the GRU is reported to have recruited civilians via messaging apps, paying them for tasks that appeared innocuous. These individuals were referred to as “disposable agents.”
Among the recruits was a 27-year-old Ukrainian man residing in Katowice, Poland. He was arrested after transporting the explosive parcels to Lithuania, setting their timers, and handing them to a Lithuanian accomplice, Aleksandr S., who allegedly mailed the packages.
In a separate development in early August 2024, another Ukrainian citizen in Poland, identified as Viacheslav C., sent two packages containing tracking devices to the United States and Canada.
Authorities believe the purpose was to map shipping routes for potential future operations.
Both Aleksandr S. and Viacheslav C. were arrested and are facing charges related to conducting sabotage on behalf of a foreign government.
The United States issued a private warning to President Vladimir Putin through then-CIA Director William Burns and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, cautioning that Russia would be held accountable for any casualties caused by such acts of sabotage. Since that communication, there have been no further package explosions reported in Europe.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin dismissed the allegations, characterizing them as baseless and conspiratorial. However, the the United States issued a private warning to President Vladimir Putin through then-CIA Director William Burns and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, cautioning that Russia would be held accountable for any casualties caused by such acts of sabotage. Since that communication, there have been no further package explosions reported in Europe.
Russia could have easily been stopped by giving Ukrainians what was needed 3 years ago, but it seems Europeans choose to fight Russians at home.