European and British authorities have linked Russian military intelligence to a series of parcel fires that struck the UK, Germany, and Poland in 2024, officials said, as cited by the BBC and Daily Mail. The incidents involved self-igniting parcels containing incendiary devices hidden in “erotic” electronics and massage pillows.
The investigation began in July 2024 after four parcels were sent from Lithuania to the UK and Poland. One package caught fire at a DHL depot near Birmingham, UK, another ignited inside a DPD truck in Poland, and a third sparked at Leipzig airport in Germany just before boarding a plane.
Investigators said a stroke of luck prevented the devices from detonating in mid-air. Additional test packages were intercepted en route to the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, indicating the operation may have been a wider campaign of sabotage.
22 suspects, recruited from the margins
Authorities have identified 22 suspects in Lithuania and Poland, believed to have acted on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence.
The suspects were recruited from Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, often from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds, and coordinated via online messaging platforms with payments in cryptocurrency.
Two cases have already been sent to court, with trials expected later this year.
"Dry runs" for transatlantic attacks
Officials said the attacks appeared designed to disrupt air cargo networks and sow chaos across Europe. Polish prosecutors described the parcels as “dry runs” that could have targeted flights to the US and Canada.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans praised the collaborative investigation, saying it demonstrated “the critical need for cross-border cooperation” and highlighted the increasing level of foreign-state activity threatening public safety and transport infrastructure.
Part of Russia's broader hybrid war on Europe
Security services in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and the UK said the campaign reflects broader Russian efforts to retaliate for Western military support to Ukraine and to pressure European states through hybrid warfare tactics.
Investigators continue to monitor transport networks for similar threats and coordinate closely with international partners to prevent further attacks.
