German authorities have thwarted a suspected Russian intelligence operation involving the mailing of incendiary devices, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The plot, uncovered in collaboration with Swiss law enforcement, targeted Ukraine and potentially other Western nations, raising concerns about escalating Russian sabotage efforts amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

On Tuesday, German prosecutors announced the arrests of three Ukrainian nationals—two in Germany and one in Switzerland—suspected of working for Russian intelligence. The men, identified as Anatolii H., 35, Oleksandr M., 38, and Hennadii P., 34, allegedly sent parcels equipped with GPS trackers to test delivery routes for incendiary devices. These parcels were intended to reach Ukraine, with the devices designed to ignite during transit, potentially disrupting critical supply chains supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.

The operation came to light after a tip from a foreign intelligence agency in March, prompting German authorities to monitor the suspects closely. Federal prosecutors stated that the men acted on behalf of “Russian state entities” and used cryptocurrency payments to obscure their financial trail.

One suspect, Anatolii H., was detained in Cologne after attempting to mail a test parcel from a local post office, while Oleksandr M. was apprehended in Constance. Hennadii P. was arrested in Switzerland and faces extradition proceedings.

“This is a significant escalation in Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics,” said Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, in a statement. “The use of incendiary devices in civilian transport networks poses a direct threat to public safety and critical infrastructure.”

Haldenwang noted that the plot bears similarities to earlier incidents in July 2024, when incendiary devices disguised as electric massagers ignited at DHL hubs in Leipzig, Germany, and Birmingham, England, narrowly missing flights bound for North America.

Investigators believe the latest scheme was part of a broader Russian campaign to destabilize Western support for Ukraine.

The WSJ report highlights a pattern of Russian intelligence operations, including arson attacks in the UK and Czech Republic, pipeline sabotage in the Baltic, and assassination plots targeting European defense executives.

Polish authorities, who arrested four individuals in October 2024 for related sabotage activities, described the earlier DHL incidents as a “test run” for attacks on US and Canadian-bound flights.

The devices in the recent plot were reportedly designed to evade detection, using magnesium-based flammable substances that could ignite mid-transit and overwhelm standard firefighting systems.

German officials tested replicas of similar devices and warned that a fire on a cargo or passenger plane could force emergency landings or, in worst-case scenarios, cause crashes over remote areas.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations, calling them “unsubstantiated insinuations” and claiming Russia had not been formally accused. However, Western security officials point to a growing trend of Russian agents outsourcing high-risk operations to local operatives, often recruited for their deniability.

“Russian intelligence is under increasing pressure and is resorting to reckless measures,” a European security official told the WSJ.

The arrests have intensified calls for stronger countermeasures against Russian sabotage in Europe. MI5 Director General Ken McCallum, in a recent speech, warned that Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency is on a “sustained mission to generate mayhem” across European infrastructure.

Polish intelligence chief Pawel Szota described the plot as a “major escalation” in Moscow’s covert operations, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the swift action of law enforcement.

Authorities are now investigating potential links to other sabotage plots and have urged logistics companies to enhance screening protocols for international shipments.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)