Investigations indicate that a key figure in this network—a leader who had recently returned from Austria—was arrested in the town of Ząbki on the outskirts of Poland’s capital.
Arson attacks in Poland and Lithuania
On March 10, Belarusian national Stepan K. was charged with setting fire to a major building-supply store in Warsaw and espionage on behalf of Russian intelligence, Polish prosecutors said.
The attempted arson, which took place on April 13-14, 2024, included remotely triggered incendiary devices discovered in the store. Investigators suspect the sabotage was ordered by the Russian intelligence services.
In Lithuania, prosecutors recently accused another member of the same alleged Russian sabotage cell of firebombing a Vilnius IKEA outlet in May 2024, describing the incident as an act of terrorism orchestrated by Russia’s military and security agencies.
Radio Zet reports that the “Lithuanian arsonist” had ties to the same clandestine “diversion center” in Poland.
Coordinated transnational operation
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in May 2024 that nine individuals had been arrested for carrying out acts of sabotage at Russia’s behest. Collaboration among law enforcement in multiple European countries led to the dismantling of the sabotage hub.
Officials say the group behind these attacks maintained sophisticated communication methods, receiving instructions via encrypted channels.
Lithuanian prosecutors found evidence the suspects traveled regularly between Warsaw and Vilnius, with one alleged arsonist rewarded with a BMW 5-series after burning the Lithuanian IKEA store.
Additional charges and wider network
Beyond sabotage and espionage, suspects also face charges relating to organized crime, human smuggling, and violent offenses. According to the Polish National Prosecutor’s Office, Stepan K. faces six counts, including spying for the Russian government, coordinating sabotage, and organizing a criminal network.
As investigations continue, prosecutors and security services in Poland, Lithuania, and other countries say the alleged sabotage network’s ultimate aim was to intimidate the public, pressure nations into scaling back military support for Ukraine, and destabilize political and economic structures across Eastern Europe.
(jh)
Source: Polskie Radio 24, Radio Zet