Russian spies reportedly set fire to an Ikea store in Lithuania because it had the same colours as the Ukrainian flag, in what is being called an act of “terror”.
The agents are being accused of an arson attack on the shop in Vilnius in May 2024. The incident will be tried as an act of terrorism.
The store went up in flames three days before a shopping centre in Poland also experienced a fire, leading authorities to believe this was part of a Russian sabotage campaign.
Arturas Urbelis, of the Lithuanian prosecutor general’s office, claims the store was not chosen at random.
He said: “Ikea’s colours are the same as Ukraine’s flag – this has strong symbolic meaning.”
Through a chain of over 20 intermediaries, investigators found that the fire was linked to Russian military intelligence.
Urbelis told reporters: “The chain includes the organisers, then more organisers for certain goals, then more intermediaries, all down to the perpetrators. It is a multi-stage, very complex system.”
The two suspects held in custody are Ukrainians under the age of 20.
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They were allegedly paid for the attack with the promise of £8,400 and a new BMW car.
Also last May, an arson attack set flames to Warsaw’s biggest shopping centre, Marywilska 44, destroying 1,400 commercial units.
Polish PM Donald Tusk called the allegations “in line with our suspicions” and “exceptional treachery”.
He drew parallels with a similar attack of attempted arson at a paint factory in Wroclaw where Russians reportedly hired Ukrainian citizens.
Writing on X, Tusk said Lithuania had "confirmed our suspicions that responsible for setting fires to shopping centres in Vilnius and Warsaw are the Russian secret services."
"Good to know before negotiations. Such is the nature of this state," he added.
Lithuanian authorities are transferring part of the case to Polish prosecutors.
Poland recently charged a Belarusian national with committing a terrorist arson attack in Warsaw on behalf of Russia.
Moscow has denied the allegations, claiming the West is attempting to stoke hostilities by blaming them for every incident.
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The agents are being accused of an arson attack on the shop in Vilnius in May 2024. The incident will be tried as an act of terrorism.
The store went up in flames three days before a shopping centre in Poland also experienced a fire, leading authorities to believe this was part of a Russian sabotage campaign.
Arturas Urbelis, of the Lithuanian prosecutor general’s office, claims the store was not chosen at random.
He said: “Ikea’s colours are the same as Ukraine’s flag – this has strong symbolic meaning.”
Through a chain of over 20 intermediaries, investigators found that the fire was linked to Russian military intelligence.
Urbelis told reporters: “The chain includes the organisers, then more organisers for certain goals, then more intermediaries, all down to the perpetrators. It is a multi-stage, very complex system.”
The two suspects held in custody are Ukrainians under the age of 20.
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They were allegedly paid for the attack with the promise of £8,400 and a new BMW car.
Also last May, an arson attack set flames to Warsaw’s biggest shopping centre, Marywilska 44, destroying 1,400 commercial units.
Polish PM Donald Tusk called the allegations “in line with our suspicions” and “exceptional treachery”.
He drew parallels with a similar attack of attempted arson at a paint factory in Wroclaw where Russians reportedly hired Ukrainian citizens.
Writing on X, Tusk said Lithuania had "confirmed our suspicions that responsible for setting fires to shopping centres in Vilnius and Warsaw are the Russian secret services."
"Good to know before negotiations. Such is the nature of this state," he added.
Lithuanian authorities are transferring part of the case to Polish prosecutors.
Poland recently charged a Belarusian national with committing a terrorist arson attack in Warsaw on behalf of Russia.
Moscow has denied the allegations, claiming the West is attempting to stoke hostilities by blaming them for every incident.
Find Out More...