Saturday, March 29, 2025
Germany has exposed a Putin-linked parcel bomb plot, arresting three Ukrainian nationals suspected of planning attacks on its cargo transport system. Officials believe the suspects acted in coordination with Russian state operatives.
Federal prosecutors confirmed that authorities in Germany and Switzerland arrested three men — Vladyslav T, Daniil B, and Yevhen B — over the last few days. They face charges of espionage and planning violent acts, including arson and explosions.
By March 2025, investigators say the trio had already coordinated with Russian-linked individuals to carry out sabotage operations across German logistics routes.
According to officials, the suspects planned to hide bombs in parcels shipped from Germany to Ukraine. These devices would have exploded during transit, potentially causing severe damage and disrupting international cargo flows.
In late March, Vladyslav T sent two test parcels containing GPS trackers from Cologne. This operation, reportedly ordered by Yevhen B, aimed to identify safe and reliable transport routes. Daniil B allegedly helped source materials for the parcels.
These arrests follow a string of mysterious explosions in 2024. Parcels sent from Lithuania detonated in Birmingham, Leipzig, and near Warsaw. Those incidents triggered heightened security concerns across Europe.
Following the blasts, DHL tightened its warehouse security, especially in Leipzig. Investigators linked the earlier incidents to the same network and noted that the bombs were concealed in everyday items like sex toys and massage pillows.
Western agencies discovered that the attackers used inexpensive Chinese trackers with timers. They also disguised the explosive gel — containing nitromethane — inside tubes resembling cosmetic products.
European intelligence officials quickly pointed to Russian involvement. These parcel attacks formed part of a broader hybrid strategy, which included cyberattacks, sabotage, and infrastructure threats.
On Tuesday, Swiss police detained Yevhen B in Thurgau and transferred him to Germany. German authorities arrested Vladyslav T in Cologne on Friday and Daniil B in Konstanz on Saturday.
Germany’s federal criminal police took over the investigation due to its national security relevance, a standard move in cases tied to terrorism or foreign sabotage.
