Lithuanian prosecutors have charged Russia's military intelligence, GRU, with orchestrating a fire at an Ikea store in Vilnius, linking two arrested Ukrainian suspects to a broader campaign of hybrid warfare.
Lithuania Links Arson Attack on Ikea Store to Russian Intelligence
Lithuania Links Arson Attack on Ikea Store to Russian Intelligence
Lithuanian authorities allege involvement of GRU in Vilnius Ikea fire, arrests made
Lithuanian prosecutors have made serious allegations against Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, claiming it orchestrated an arson attack on an Ikea furniture store in Vilnius last year. According to prosecutor Arturas Urbelis, two Ukrainian suspects have been apprehended—one in Lithuania and the other in Poland—marking this incident as an “act of terrorism.”
Urbelis stated that their investigation into intermediaries has confirmed connections to Russian military intelligence and security services. In response, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed gratitude for Lithuania's findings, stating that they validated suspicions regarding Russian secret services being responsible for fire incidents in both Vilnius and Warsaw.
Russia has consistently refuted claims from NATO countries regarding its clandestine operations aimed at causing unrest across Europe. Notably, Czech Prime Minister highlighted that a recent failed arson attempt was also linked to Russian orchestration. Security analysts interpret these incidents as part of a systemic hybrid warfare strategy intended to destabilize European support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflicts since February 2022.
The Ikea arson in May 2022 resulted in no casualties; however, it followed a disastrous fire that engulfed a significant shopping mall in Warsaw. Prosecutor Urbelis revealed that the two teenage suspects had convened secretly in Warsaw, plotting to set ablaze retail shops in Lithuania and Latvia in exchange for a hefty sum of €10,000 and a BMW vehicle.
