Lithuania charges six foreign nationals with terrorism over plot targeting Ukraine military aid

Lithuanian prosecutors have charged six foreign nationals with terrorism over an alleged plot to attack a private military supplier providing aid to Ukraine.

Authorities said the case relates to a planned September 2024 attack in Siauliai, northern Lithuania. The suspects are accused of participating in a terrorist group, attempting a terrorist act, and financing terrorism. The indictment has been submitted to the Siauliai Regional Court, according to Artūras Urbelis, chief prosecutor of the Organised Crime and Corruption Investigation Department.

“The defendants hold various citizenships: one Spanish citizen, one dual Spanish-Colombian citizen, and citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Russia and Belarus,” Urbelis said.

Prosecutors said the target was UAB TVC Solutions, a company supplying mobile radio spectrum analysis stations intended for Ukraine’s armed forces. Investigations into four additional suspects are ongoing. One suspect has been arrested in Colombia under an international warrant and is awaiting extradition to Lithuania, while arrest warrants have been issued for three others.

Authorities indicated the plot may have been coordinated from Russia, with links to the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU. Prosecutors said there are “reasonable grounds to suspect the attempted sabotage was carried out on the orders of and for the benefit of the GRU.” The most serious charge carries a potential prison sentence of five to 15 years under Lithuanian law.

Saulius Briginas, deputy head of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, said the attack was planned in advance and executed in multiple stages. Several suspects initially travelled to Lithuania to gather intelligence on the targeted company and its infrastructure. They then relayed information to the organisers of the plot.

A Spanish citizen and a Spanish-Colombian national later arrived with instructions to carry out the attack. “They arrived with the specific task of setting fire to the radio spectrum analysis stations,” Briginas said, adding that investigators found the suspects had obtained gasoline and other materials intended for arson.

The attack failed after passersby intervened. The suspects fled to Latvia, where they were detained by authorities. A few days later, two additional suspects, citizens of Russia and Belarus, entered Lithuania in an attempt to complete the attack.

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