Lithuania Begins Trial Into Russia-Linked Blasts

Investigators believe those recruited mostly comprised poorer people living in Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Latvia. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (For illustrative purposes) Containers of German postal service Deutsche Post stand in line at a logistics center in Dortmund, western Germany, on March 6, 2025. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google A Vilnius court on Friday began a trial into an allegedly Russia-linked case where parcels with exploding devices were sent to several Western countries from Lithuania through delivery networks. Five people are accused of working with Russia’s military intelligence agency GRU to prepare and send self-igniting packages via DHL and DPD that detonated in Germany, Poland and Britain in 2024. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “During the hearings, data... regarding identified and wanted persons may be disclosed,” prosecutor Sarunas Astrauskas told the court, according to the BNS agency.  He said other members of the alleged terrorist group were being sought.  In July 2024, a Lithuanian citizen and accomplices “used the delivery and transportation services of DHL and DPD companies and sent four parcels from Vilnius with homemade explosive-incendiary devices,” according to the prosecutors.   A fourth parcel was intercepted by officials and did not detonate due to a malfunction.  Investigators found that two test parcels had been sent to the United States and Canada, while two others intended for those countries were found in Amsterdam.  A joint investigation team was created at Eurojust, consisting of Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain and receiving support from Estonia, Latvia, the United States, Canada and Europol.  According to their investigation, 22 individuals are believed to have acted in the interests of Russian intelligence services.  Other Topics of Interest Hungary Says Russian Oil Flows via Druzhba Pipeline Might Resume Next Week The potential restart follows months of disruption after a drone strike and ongoing disputes between Kyiv and EU states over repairs. Eurojust claims the suspects were recruited through online messaging platforms, with tasks being divided among them. Investigators believe those recruited mostly comprised poorer people living in Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Latvia.  Five suspects are currently on trial in connection with the sabotage case in Poland and international arrest warrants are out for another five.  According to a report by the International Center for Counter-Terrorism, Poland is the “most frequently targeted country” for Russian sabotage campaigns across Europe.  Lithuania and Germany were tied for third place.