On January 16, 2026, Polish prosecutors charged five men with involvement in a Russian-directed sabotage operation to send explosive parcels to Britain, the United States, Canada, and additional destinations. The five defendants include four Ukrainian citizens and two Russian nationals and face life imprisonment if convicted. The plot involved preparing parcels with hidden incendiary devices and explosives targeting logistics and aviation infrastructure. One suspect, identified as Vyacheslav C., was responsible for planning sabotage activities including sending two test packages to the U.S. and Canada. Another suspect, Vladyslav O., was accused of receiving and transporting packages through Lithuania. The case builds on prior incidents including similar parcel detonations in Britain, Germany, and Poland in 2024, reportedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence services. The Polish National Prosecutor’s Office stated the suspects acted on behalf of Russian intelligence and accused some Ukrainian citizens of receiving Russian payments in exchange for sabotage operations coordinated through encrypted messaging apps, such as Telegram. The investigation highlights continued Russian covert sabotage efforts targeting Western logistics and security infrastructure amidst ongoing Russia-West tensions.
Category: Terrorism & Criminal Proxy Tactics
Subcategory: Terrorism
Incident Type: Bomb threats, assassination plots, targeted killings
Country: Poland
Source report: www.reuters.com/world/ame…
