Russia Parcel Bomb Plot Uncovered in NATO State

German federal prosecutors said three Ukrainian nationals have been arrested in Germany and Switzerland for allegedly plotting parcel bomb attacks on behalf of the Russian state.

The three men "declared their willingness to commit arson and explosive attacks on the transport of goods in the Federal Republic of Germany to one or more persons allegedly acting on behalf of Russian state agencies," the prosecutor's office said in a release.

"To this end, the accused were to send parcels from Germany to recipients in Ukraine with explosive or incendiary devices that would ignite during transport."

Why it Matters

Russian sabotage is a substantial concern across Europe, particularly among NATO allies such as Germany. Agents of the Russian state have been linked to a number of arson attacks.

Western allies accuse Russia of conducting "hybrid warfare" against them through sabotage and cyberattacks, among other acts of malicious disruption. But Moscow denies any involvement.

What to Know

The men accused in Germany of planning acts of sabotage were identified as Vladyslav T, Daniil B, and Yevhen B.

German authorities arrested Vladyslav T. on May 9 in Cologne and Daniil B. on May 10 in Konstanz. The Swiss attorney general's office arrested Yevhen B. in Thurgau on May 13 and he will be transferred to Germany.

Prosecutors said Vladyslav T. used GPS trackers to scout suitable transport routes in Cologne. He was allegedly given the order by Yevhen B, who passed on packages via Daniil B.

German security services fear there are hundreds of Russian agents operating in the country, newspaper B.Z. reported.

Western security officials suspect Russian intelligence was behind a plot to put incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes headed to North America, including one that caught fire at a courier hub in Leipzig, Germany, and another that ignited in a warehouse in Birmingham, England.

The head of Britain's domestic intelligence agency, MI5, said in October 2024 that the U.K. is facing a "staggering rise" in attempts at assassination, sabotage, and other crimes on its soil by Russia, as well as Iran.

What People Are Saying

Katrin Göring-Eckardt, a Green lawmaker in Germany's Bundestag, posted to X in response to the parcel bomb plot: "We mustn't fool ourselves: Russia's aggression has long been directed against us in Germany. It is real. It is threatening. It is right on our doorstep. It is essential to comprehensively strengthen our security authorities."

What's Next

The three accused men in Germany will face the courts.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.