Lithuanian authorities have announced that they believe Russian military intelligence was behind the 2024 arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius, describing it as part of a coordinated terrorist operation aimed at intimidating Baltic societies and undermining support for Ukraine.
The claim was made public by Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office on Monday, with investigators stating they have “reasonable grounds” to conclude that the suspect involved collaborated with Russian military and security services.
this was reported by Euronews.
Suspect Linked to Terrorist Organization
The main suspect, identified as a foreign national who was underage at the time, allegedly planted a timed fuse in the Ikea store on May 9, 2024.
After setting the blaze and filming the incident, the suspect reportedly sent the footage to handlers before fleeing to Warsaw, where they were rewarded with a BMW vehicle.
According to Lithuanian prosecutors, the suspect had frequently traveled between Poland and Lithuania, gathering intelligence for multiple planned attacks.
They were ultimately arrested en route to Riga, Latvia, where authorities say a similar arson was being prepared.
Part of a Broader Sabotage Campaign
Lithuanian officials say the arson was not an isolated act but part of a pre-established terrorist organization working on behalf of the Russian Federation’s military structures and intelligence agencies.
The goal, according to prosecutors, was to intimidate citizens, sow division, and apply pressure on Baltic governments to withdraw their support for Ukraine.
The act is being treated as terrorism, and the suspect is expected to face formal charges and arrest.
The Vilnius arson was previously mentioned by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who linked it to a Russian spy ring uncovered in May 2024.
Speaking to TVN24, Tusk said nine individuals had been arrested in Poland for carrying out sabotage operations “in the name of Russian (intelligence) services.” The suspects reportedly included Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Polish nationals.
Tusk also cited an attempted arson at a paint factory in Wrocław, Poland, which Polish investigators believe was part of the same coordinated sabotage campaign.
Lithuania and other Baltic states have been among the most outspoken backers of Ukraine, and officials fear that such attacks are designed to destabilize domestic support for continued military and political aid.
