US intelligence has discovered a Russian military operation aimed at placing incendiary devices in cargo shipments destined for American flights, prompting stern warnings to Moscow about consequences for supporting terrorism, according to The New York Times.
The plot came to light after a series of suspicious cargo fires at airports across Europe during summer 2023. Packages containing seemingly harmless consumer goods, including a modified electric massager used as a test device, ignited at facilities in Germany, the UK, and Poland.
By August, White House officials received alarming intelligence suggesting Russia's GRU military intelligence service was planning to expand these operations to target flights bound for the US and Canada. Intercepted communications revealed the strategy was to cause fires after packages were unloaded, with both cargo and passenger aircraft considered potential targets.
"The risk of catastrophic error was clear," said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, noting that devices could ignite aboard fully loaded aircraft. In response, stricter cargo screening protocols were implemented for US-bound shipments starting August, with additional security measures rolled out by October.
Questions remain about Russian President Vladimir Putin's direct involvement in the plot. Some US officials believe GRU officers may have acted under broad directives to pressure NATO allies rather than specific orders from Putin himself.
After US warnings reached Moscow, the suspicious fires in Europe ceased temporarily. However, intelligence officials remain concerned that Russia could be using this pause to develop more sophisticated devices for future sabotage attempts.
The discovery comes amid broader patterns of Russian aggression against NATO countries. An OSCE report documented approximately 150 Russian attacks on NATO members since the Ukraine war began, including cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure like railways, hospitals, and water supplies.
The Biden administration continues monitoring the situation while maintaining enhanced security measures to protect US aviation from potential Russian sabotage attempts.