Western intelligence suspects Russia of attempting to start fires on planes to the USA and Canada - Media.

Western intelligence agencies claim that Russia conducted a secret operation aimed at causing fires on planes heading to the USA and Canada. For this purpose, it sent two incendiary devices via DHL, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The explosions occurred in DHL logistics centers in July, one in Leipzig, Germany, another in Birmingham, England, reports the Ukrainian Pravda.

Investigative agencies in Europe discovered that the devices were electric massagers with a flammable substance based on magnesium.

The investigation showed that this was only part of a general Russian conspiracy, stated security service representatives and individuals familiar with the situation.

According to WSJ, the electric massagers, which were sent from Lithuania to the United Kingdom, are an attempt to find out how to smuggle incendiary devices onto planes flying to North America.

Lithuanian police detained a suspect who sent four incendiary devices, including two from a DHL store in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, reported a European law enforcement official. The suspect identified himself as Igor Prudnikov, but his real name is Aleksandr Suranovas, noted the official. Investigators believe that he was used as a proxy by Russian spy agencies.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not comment on the official accusations of Russia's involvement, stating that these are merely "unsubstantiated insinuations by the media".

European authorities claim that Russia is behind a campaign of sabotage, including arson in the United Kingdom and Czechia, attacks on pipelines and communication cables in the Baltics, as well as interference in water supply systems in Sweden and Finland.

Several months after the fires in DHL logistics centers, MI6 and MI5 leaders reported on Russia's sabotage operations. In September, MI6 head Richard Moore noted that Russian spy agencies are acting "somewhat wildly".

A month later, MI5 head Ken McCallum warned that Russia is organizing "arsons, sabotages, and other dangerous actions with increasing recklessness".