Lithuanian authorities accused Russia’s GRU military intelligence service on Friday, January 16, 2026, of masterminding the attempted arson attacks of a plant that supplies radio wave scanners to Ukraine’s army.
The group that coordinated the attack was made up of Colombian and Cuban citizens living in Russia, and had attempted similar arson attacks. They had targeted oil infrastructure in Romania, construction warehouses in Poland and buses, a post office, and a cinema in the Czech Republic.
Six nationals from Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Russia, and Belarus had been arrested and charged. Each accused faces 15 years in jail if convicted.
Lithuania has issued international arrest warrants for three more people, and is in the process of extraditing a fourth who has been arrested in Colombia.
Source:
Andrius Sytas, Reuters: Russia was behind attempted 2024 arson attack, Lithuania says https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-was-behind-attempted-2024-arson-attack-lithuania-says-2026-01-16/