A court in Lithuania has sentenced a young Ukrainian man, Danylo Bardadym, to three years and four months in prison. This follows an arson attack last year at an IKEA store in Vilnius.
In May 2024, Bardadym reportedly placed an explosive device inside the IKEA. It detonated during the night, causing a fire that was swiftly brought under control with no casualties or injuries.
The judge in Vilnius declared Bardadym’s actions an “act of terrorism” in the capital. He was also found guilty of an “attempted terrorist attack” in Siauliai, home to a NATO airbase.
Prosecutors alleged that Bardadym acted “in the interest of a foreign military intelligence service” and claimed Russia had prior knowledge of his plans, indicating a potential state-sponsored operation.
At the time of the incident, Bardadym was 17 years old. He was reportedly promised a car and 10,000 euros, approximately $11,500, for carrying out these actions.
Further convictions include “training for terrorist purposes” and traveling to Riga, Latvia, also “for terrorist purposes and possession of explosives,” adding to the severity of his offenses. Read more at The Moscow Times.
This incident in Lithuania echoes a broader pattern of Russian-linked sabotage across Europe. Polish authorities recently arrested dozens of suspects involved in espionage and sabotage operations, including individuals paid to commit arson.
Such actions highlight a concerning trend of foreign interference, with operatives often recruited online for small payments to carry out destabilizing acts. For more details on these widespread efforts, see Poland arrests 55 suspects over Russian-linked espionage operations.