Russia has summoned a senior Canadian diplomat to protest against "false accusations" linking Moscow to sabotage plans in the West, Russian diplomacy announced today.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the deputy head of the Canadian diplomatic mission in Moscow "was informed that these speculations (...) indicate the likely preparation of a gross anti-Russian provocation."
The diplomat was given a note of protest regarding "false accusations about an alleged 'Russian sabotage' planned against NATO countries, involving the sending, including to recipients in Canada, of explosives by mail," it added.
Earlier this month, Poland and Lithuania announced the arrest of several people suspected of being involved in the shipment of parcels to several European countries that were set on fire this summer in DHL logistics group warehouses in Germany and Great Britain.
Some European officials attributed the operation to Russia.
Following the incident, the Canadian government said it was "deeply concerned" about Russia's escalating "sabotage activities," according to CBC television.
In its response released today, Moscow accused Canada of engaging in a "hybrid war" against Russia by supplying weapons to Ukraine and through "the participation of Canadian mercenaries in hostilities on the side of the Kiev regime, with the blessing of the Trudeau government," the Canadian prime minister said.
"Any hostile action will not go unanswered (...) Canadian authorities must exercise caution and refrain from taking harmful measures that could escalate the confrontation with Russia," the ministry added.
