The explosions at DHL logistics warehouses near Warsaw, in Birmingham, and Leipzig in the summer of 2024 were organized by Russian intelligence, according to an investigation by an international team of journalists from VSquare, re:Baltica, LRT, Delfi, Frontstory, and The Insider*.
Investigators found that nitromethane was used as the explosive. In Russia, the substance was hidden in sex toys, massage pillows, and cosmetic tubes and brought into Europe as a parcel with personal items. The delivery operation was organized by former Soviet submariner Alexander Miroshnikov. Instructions to members of the criminal network were given by GRU agent Yaroslav Mikhailov. Eventually, the package was delivered to Vilnius in the name of Ukrainian citizen Vyacheslav Chebanenko, who divided the nitromethane into four parts, attached detonators to it, and activated a timer.
The packages were supposed to be picked up by Lithuanian Alexander Shuranovas, but he got lost in a new building and couldn't find the right apartment, according to the investigation. Chebanenko had to urgently return to the apartment and deactivate the explosives, preventing an explosion in the high-rise building. The packages were moved to warehouses in Kaunas, from where they were picked up by a Ukrainian living in Poland, Vladislav Derkavets, who had previously spent almost 3 years in a Polish prison on money laundering charges.
On the second attempt, Shuranovas sent the packages to England via DHL and to Poland via DPD. The next day, the first explosion occurred at the DHL warehouse in Leipzig, igniting a container with packages. Less than 24 hours later, the second package ignited in a trailer at the warehouse in Jablonowo near Warsaw, operated by DPD. The third package exploded at the DHL transport warehouse in Birmingham. The fourth package was intercepted by Polish special services in Warsaw before it could ignite. Upon inspection, it was found that one of the neck massage pillows was equipped with a timer, an ignition device, and nitromethane.
On Wednesday, Lithuanian police reported the detention of several citizens of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and Ukraine on suspicion of organizing terrorist attacks in EU countries. Charges were brought against 15 citizens, and three more — Andrey Baburov, Yaroslav Mikhailov, and Tomas Dovgan Stabachinskas — were put on the international wanted list. Police noted that Mikhailov and Stabachinskas were also "directly connected" with the attempted arson of IKEA on May 9, 2024, in Vilnius.
According to investigative journalists, Mikhailov is hiding in Azerbaijan, Baburov — in St. Petersburg.
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent" and "undesirable" organization.