Lithuania has accused Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, of orchestrating an arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius last year. The fire caused no casualties but was deemed a terrorist act by Lithuanian prosecutors.
The country, a NATO member and ally of Ukraine since 2022, has warned about Russian sabotage attempts multiple times. Two Ukrainian citizens were detained in Lithuania and Poland in connection with the attack, which was linked to a plot to set fires in shopping centers across Lithuania and Latvia for €10,000.
Lithuanian Prosecutor Arturas Urbelis stated that intermediaries connected to Russia’s GRU were involved in planning the crime. Polish authorities are investigating 30 alleged sabotage cases, citing an increase in foreign services’ activity after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on Lithuania’s findings, saying it was “exceptionally perfidious” for Russia to hire Ukrainians as saboteurs.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/17/russia-behind-arson-attack-on-ikea-store-in-lithuania-capital-says-prosecutor