The Russian security services announce that they have seized icons with explosives brought from Ukraine. The goods would have also transited Romania

The Russian security services (FSB) announced on Tuesday that they seized dozens of kilograms of explosives from Ukraine, hidden in Orthodox icons. The explosives would have transited several EU countries, including Romania, the FSB claims.

The explosives were seized during an inspection of a shipment of icons and religious objects in the Pskov region (north-west), on the border between Russia and Latvia, the FSB stated in a statement, according to AFP, taken by Agerpres.

The Russian security services say that they have put an end to the “cross-border trafficking of explosives from Ukraine through European Union countries”.

According to the FSB, the explosives were transported to Russia on the route Ukraine – Romania – Hungary – Slovakia – Poland – Lithuania – Latvia.

In total, 27 improvised explosive devices hidden in icons and ready for use, 70 kg of industrially produced high explosive, 91 electric detonators and components of an RPG-7 grenade launcher were seized.

A person suspected of being involved in this traffic was arrested, the press release also states, without providing any other details.

“All the organizers and accomplices of this crime, including foreign citizens, will be the subject of a search warrant and will be prosecuted according to Russian law,” the FSB said.

Publisher: BP

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