Russia attempted to orchestrate in-flight fires on planes heading to the U.S. and Canada.

Russia has tested the possibility of organizing terrorist attacks on passenger planes during their flights from Europe to the USA and Canada. Investigators have found incendiary devices and detained suspects.

This information was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing The Wall Street Journal.

Western intelligence agencies discovered two incendiary devices that were sent via DHL. They believe this was part of a covert operation by the Russian Federation, which was intended to provoke fires aboard civilian aircraft. Similar devices ignited in July at DHL logistics centers in Leipzig (Germany) and Birmingham (United Kingdom).

As noted by the publication, the incidents involving fires triggered an international search for those responsible. Investigators and intelligence agencies in Europe determined that the "explosive packages" contained electric massagers that were filled with a flammable magnesium-based substance. Investigators concluded that they were part of a broader conspiracy involving Russian intelligence services.

The organizers of the explosions in Germany and Britain were sought throughout Europe. The National Prosecutor's Office of Poland arrested four individuals and charged them with participating in sabotage or terrorist operations on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency. The investigators did not disclose their names or nationalities. The search continues for at least two more individuals involved.

The prosecutor's office confirmed that the aim of the explosions was to test the delivery channel for such packages, which were later planned to be sent to the USA and Canada.

In response to a request from The Wall Street Journal, the press secretary of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the Kremlin had "never heard any official accusations" regarding Russia's involvement.

He described the publication as "traditional unfounded insinuations from the media."

Fires at DHL Warehouses

The incident in the United Kingdom occurred on July 22, 2024, in Minworth, a suburb of Birmingham. The package was delivered by plane, but fortunately, it ignited on the ground rather than in the air.

Special forces established that the electric massagers were sent to the UK from Lithuania. They believe the goal of the operation was to determine how to smuggle these incendiary devices onto planes heading to North America.

The UK is investigating the incident in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies across Europe. So far, no probable suspects have been detained.

A similar incident occurred at the end of July in Germany. A suspicious package destined for a departing aircraft caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Leipzig.

The head of Germany's domestic security agency, Thomas Haldenwang, informed lawmakers that no one was harmed due to the fire and flight delays. He called it a "fortunate coincidence."

Additionally, in May, a fire occurred at the warehouse of the defense manufacturer Diehl in Berlin. The company produces components for the Iris-T air defense missile systems, which are provided to Ukraine to protect against Russian missile attacks.