Vasily Kovach, a Ukrainian man in his sixties, was arrested on March 1, 2025, at his home near Riga, the capital of Latvia, by the country's security forces. These forces raided his property under the orders of the Latvian State Security Service and seized several mobile phones, SIM cards, documents, and a pistol along with other weapons.
Charges and Trial in Lithuania
After his arrest, Kovach was transferred to Lithuania and charged along with four other defendants with planning terrorist attacks. Lithuanian and Polish prosecutors claim that these ten individuals played a role in planning and executing arson attacks in several European countries on behalf of Russian military intelligence, known as the GRU. One of these incidents occurred at Leipzig Airport in Germany, where a package caught fire.
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Kovach's Role in the Espionage Network
According to available information, Kovach is recognized as one of the less significant intelligence agents and has been described as a "disposable" asset. He acted as a courier for transferring items, including modified massage cushions designed to conceal incendiary materials. This type of recruitment by the GRU has increased due to operational difficulties in Europe following the invasion of Ukraine.
Kovach and the other defendants claim they were unaware of any intelligence activities and were merely seeking income for themselves. They performed simple tasks such as taking photos or sending packages and were often oblivious to the greater dangers involved. In fact, these individuals are easily replaceable.
Despite extensive writing about these agents and the shadow war occurring in Europe, less attention has been paid to who these individuals are and how they have become tools in a new Cold War. Are they merely criminals, or do they also qualify as victims?
Interview with Kovach
In interviews conducted with Kovach, he spoke candidly about his situation and how he ended up here. He emphasized that the issue for him is justice, not personal gain. He also referenced the dangers he has faced in his life, stating that he does not consider his life to be particularly valuable.
During these discussions, Kovach stated, citing investigative information, that he acted on June 27, 2024, at the request of an anonymous person via Telegram to transfer a package. He mentioned that he did this to help a friend who introduced him and did not receive any payment for it.
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