Law enforcement agencies from Ukraine and several European partners have carried out a major international operation that prevented a series of serious and particularly grave crimes planned across the European Union, allegedly under direction from Russia.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, since August 2024, individuals linked to Russian intelligence services operating through intermediaries and from abroad had been coordinating efforts to prepare violent attacks inside EU member states.
A key focus of the plot was the preparation of contract killings in Lithuania. Members of the criminal network reportedly conducted extensive surveillance on two targets: a Russian public figure granted political asylum in Lithuania, and a Lithuanian citizen known for supporting Ukraine.
The group gathered detailed intelligence on their residences, travel routes, daily routines, and other sensitive data necessary to carry out the planned attacks.
Authorities confirmed that 13 individuals have been arrested as part of the operation, effectively disrupting what could have escalated into a series of high-profile violent incidents across Europe.
The case highlights growing concerns within European security circles about covert operations and proxy networks linked to geopolitical tensions, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing confrontation with Ukraine and its broader impact on regional stability.
