Court Rules Ukrainian Restaurant Arson Was Work of Russian Intelligence
Share this @internewscast.com

AP — An arson attack on a restaurant and supermarket in Estonia this year were ordered by Russian intelligence, an Estonian court said Wednesday.

The attack was one in a series across Europe tracked by The Associated Press and linked to Russia by Western officials. The goal, they asserted, is to sow division in Western societies and undermine support for Ukraine.

The Harju County Court in Estonia said the perpetrators were two Moldovan men who are cousins, both named Ivan Chihaial. One was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for the arson attack on the restaurant and supermarket, which the court said was carried out on behalf of Russia’s security services.

The other Ivan Chihaial was an accomplice and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

In a statement, the court said the first Chihaial was tasked with the operation by Russian military intelligence, known as the GRU.

It said he carried out a trial operation on behalf of the GRU in January 2025, setting fire to a Co-op supermarket in the village of Osula in southeastern Estonia. The next day someone acting on behalf of the GRU tasked him with setting fire to the Slava Ukraina restaurant in the capital, Tallinn.

Chihaial drove with his cousin to the restaurant on the night of Jan. 31, 2025, then they set fire to it and left Estonia. The court said Chihaial’s cousin was unaware he was working for the GRU.

The court said the defendants set fire to the supermarket and the restaurant by breaking a window, pouring in gasoline, placing a bag with a gasoline can inside and igniting it.

Authorities in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland worked to detain the men who were apprehended in Italy before being sent to Estonia to face trial, said State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas.

The arson is the latest attack on Estonia since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In prior cases, Estonia suffered cyberattacks and the windows of cars belonging to a politician and journalist were smashed.

Previous attackers have been recruited inside Russia, which shares a border with Estonia. The Estonian Internal Security Service said the fact that Russia’s intelligence agencies used Moldovans who were sent to the country showed they are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit, including among dual citizens.

Russia has been accused of a widespread sabotage campaign by Western officials since its invasion of Ukraine. As well as cases of arson, the attacks across Europe range from stuffing car tailpipes with expanding foam in Germany to a plot to plant explosives on cargo planes, hacking that targeted politicians and critical infrastructure and spying by a ring convicted in the U.K.

President Vladimir Putin´s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has told the AP that the Kremlin has never been shown “any proofs” supporting accusations of a broader sabotage campaign and said “certainly we definitely reject any allegations.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Trump Advises Elon Musk to Enjoy Launching the America Party

President Donald Trump mocked Elon Musk’s newly formed third party, describing it…

Elon Musk’s Strategy to Undermine Trump Sparks Outrage Among MAGA Supporters

The tumultuous relationship between Elon Musk, the world’s richest individual, and former…

Brooks Nader’s Outfit Mishap in White at Wimbledon

Brooks Nader demonstrated her healthy sense of humor about herself as she…

Chaos Ensues at Wimbledon Centre Court Following AI Line Judge Error

Wimbledon found itself in another embarrassing line-call controversy when Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova accused…

Anger among Texas flood victims as authorities fault National Weather Service

Victims of the catastrophic flash floods ravaging Central Texas are outraged as…

Scarlett Johansson Achieves Status as Top-Grossing Leading Actor in History

Scarlett Johansson has overtaken her Marvel Cinematic Universe colleagues, Samuel L. Jackson…

Women Discover Startling Secret After Uncovering 200 Bodies

Two dedicated female investigators have worked tirelessly for the past five years…

NATO Chief Warns That Invasions by Xi and Putin Could Ignite World War III

NATO chief Mark Rutte has chillingly warned that World War III will…

Trump Directs Placement of 17 Miles of Border Buoys in Texas’ Rio Grande

In addition to the border infrastructure funded by President Trump’s One Big…

Teen Campers Share Scary Experiences Before Texas Floods

Two teenage counselors at Camp Mystic recounted a harrowing experience where they…

Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration to Aid Flood-Stricken Texas

President Donald Trump is making sure first responders in central Texas have…

Justin Bieber Posts Sweaty ‘Detox’ Selfie Shortly After

Justin Bieber has sparked fan concern once again with another cryptic Instagram post.…