That August, Suranovas was arrested and charged with carrying out an act of terrorism on behalf of Russian military intelligence, the GRU. Twenty-two people are now in custody in Lithuania and Poland after an international investigation involving UK counter-terrorism officers. The investigation concluded that the operation was orchestrated by Russia, although Moscow has consistently denied these allegations. Suranovas's account gives a unique insight into the plot that targeted the UK and other countries, aiming to destabilize support for Ukraine.

“I wouldn't call it a shadow war. I think this is active aggression against our nations,” warns Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre. He emphasizes that the situation is precarious and that those who support Ukraine are being threatened.

Initially, Suranovas attempted to collect the parcels from an Airbnb in Vilnius but was unsuccessful. However, three weeks later, the operation was back on track. He had been hired by an acquaintance in Russia, known as HK, who communicated through Telegram with explicit instructions to send the packages to various addresses in the UK using courier services.

Suranovas insists on his innocence, stating he would “never knowingly have handled explosives.” Despite his criminal record related to a pyramid scheme in Poland and a previous conviction in Denmark, he continues to deny any connection to Russian intelligence, insisting, “I am no spy.”

The ongoing investigation reveals Moscow's strategy of using individuals within Europe to execute such operations, indicating a dangerous trend in organized crime's association with state-sponsored sabotage.

In the aftermath of the parcel deliveries, which resulted in multiple explosions but no injuries, security officials warn of the increasing threat posed by such tactics. Suranovas's story highlights the intertwining of crime and espionage, shedding light on Russia's evolving methods of aggression.