VIDEO Russia claims to have intercepted explosives hidden in icons at the border, sent by Ukraine through Romania and other EU countries

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claims to have “blocked” a channel for the introduction into Russia of explosive devices hidden in icons, sent by Ukraine through the countries of the European Union, including Romania, reports TASS.

“During the inspection of a car by Russian FSB officers at the international car checkpoint ‘Ubylinka’ (no in the Pskov region on the border between Russia and Latvia), foreign-made explosives were found in a batch of Orthodox icons and objects church objects imported into the Russian Federation from Ukraine,” the FSB’s press service told TASS, Russia’s best-known state news agency, adding that the objects were discovered following a joint operation with the Russian Customs Service.

The video recording published by the FSB of the alleged capture includes a testimony from the driver of the car, who claims that he passed through Romania.

“In total, 27 improvised explosive devices camouflaged in icons and ready for use, 70 kg of high-powered plastic explosives were recovered from the cargo traveling on the route Ukraine – Romania – Hungary – Slovakia – Poland – Lithuania – Latvia – Russia , 91 electric detonators and parts of a warhead for an RPG-7,” the FSB claims.

FSB officers say a person involved in the crime has been detained, but did not provide further information such as his identity and role in the alleged scheme.

TASS also notes that the Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Pskov Region opened a criminal case under Art. 226.1 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal transportation of explosives and explosive devices across the border of the Russian Federation by an organized group of persons), which provides for up to 10 years in prison.

“All organizers and accomplices to the crime, including foreign nationals, will be put on the wanted list and prosecuted in accordance with Russian law,” the FSB stressed.

The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has called the attempt to introduce explosive-filled icons into Russia “blasphemy,” according to Lenta, one of Russia’s most popular news sites.

This comment was made by Vahtang Kipsidze, the vice-president of the Synodal Department for the relations of the Russian Orthodox Church with society and mass media, a department within the Moscow Patriarchate.

He also said that “anything can be expected” from those who decide to hide bombs in religious objects and that in Ukraine “there is a fight against canonical Orthodoxy”.