The Russian security service FSB has announced that it has liquidated a “saboteur” attributed to the Ukrainian armed forces, who is also associated with Lithuania.
Among other things, Russian propagandists did not forget to mention that “Ukrainian terrorist organizations” aim to “exterminate all Russians” in the Baltic countries, plan terrorist acts in Orthodox churches and places where Russian-speaking residents live, and mention the burning of a cinema in Riga during a movie screening.
The report states that a 48-year-old Russian citizen in 2024 arrived in the Moscow region from Lithuania in March. He allegedly received the task of the Ukrainian special services to take the components of explosive devices hidden in them from hiding places, to assemble improvised explosive devices on the spot and to carry out sabotage and terrorist acts in military and energy infrastructure facilities.
The Russian security service says in a statement that the alleged “saboteur” was tracked down while he was transporting the explosives taken from the hideout, but he managed to resist with a weapon and escape.
“In his car, a Stechkin automatic pistol, a hunting rifle, grenades, components for making improvised explosive devices and detonators, as well as documents and a mobile phone were found.
It was established that, on the instructions of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the saboteur planned to commit a series of terrorist acts on the territory of Russia, including against the objects of the Ministry of Defense of Russia in the Moscow region, as well as against the soldiers of the volunteer battalion and its volunteer center in St. Petersburg.
Explosives and ammunition were also found in the garage and the apartment that the criminal rented in Moscow, as well as the card of the Lithuanian branch of the Swedish bank “SwedBank”, the FSB statement, quoted by most Russian news channels, reads.
FSB officers reportedly finally managed to track down the suspected “saboteur” after he was caught planning an attack at a gas station when he took hidden explosives from a secret location. He allegedly tried to shoot back, but was killed.
“We found and seized at the scene: weapons, an explosive device and means of communication with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which were used to plan his evacuation from Russian territory after the execution of the sabotage.
After examining the subject’s phone, his correspondence with the curator was found, confirming the preparation for a terrorist attack in the Leningrad region, as well as his training in Pabrade, Vilnius.” In addition, the aspirations to “exterminate all Russians” in the Baltic countries and plans to organize terrorist acts in Orthodox churches and places where they live are mentioned Russian-speaking residents, first of all, the burning of a cinema in Riga during a movie screening in Riga.
The statements spread by the FSB are misinformation, said Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the NKVC. He called on citizens to be careful and warned that similar attacks could happen more.
“Russia has been systematically conducting disinformation campaigns and provocations for a long time in order to raise tensions between societies and allies, and to cover up its aggressive actions. This disinformation spread by the FSB is just such a case.
One of the goals of such aggressive activity is to influence Lithuania’s support for Ukraine. Disinformation will not change Lithuania’s efforts in supporting Ukraine, which is fighting for freedom.
Given the fact that the “Thunder Thunder” military exercise is currently taking place in Lithuania, we may receive more disinformation attacks of this kind. We urge citizens to remain vigilant, and we ask information disseminators to be cautious about the disinformation spread by Russia,” commented V. Vitkauskas.
