Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba on Saturday estimated at least 18 cases of threats against diplomatic missions and institutions of twelve countries in recent days, which he described as acts of «terrorism and intimidation» that will not be able to «break» the will of their ambassadors.
«As of today, there are 18 cases of threats in 12 countries: an attempted terrorist attack in Spain, packages with threats in the form of eyes gouged out of animals in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Vatican, France, as well as a suspicious letter to the United States,» he has made known in a message posted on his Telegram account.
On Wednesday, an explosion occurred at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid. A letter with a homemade bomb, addressed to the ambassador, was opened by an employee of the diplomatic mission. He received a minor injury to his right arm and sought medical attention in a Madrid hospital. Spanish authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack.
On Friday, the Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed another suspicious shipment containing a crushed animal eye, thus bearing similarities to other packages received at embassies in this Russian-invaded country. It ruled out, however, the existence of any explosive or deflagrating substance, as well as a mechanism for its activation.
Interior had so far confirmed six other packages containing pyrotechnic material with a mechanism that causes a «sudden flame deflagration» when opened. The first of these was sent on November 24 to the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. The Audiencia Nacional has taken over the investigation.
In parallel, and before the new envelope was found in its embassy in Spain, the Ukrainian government had pointed out that in recent days «bloody packages» with animal eyes had arrived at the country’s embassies in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia and Italy, and that suspicious shipments had also been registered in the country’s consulates in Poland, the Czech Republic and Italy.
According to Kuleba, in this way «terrorists are trying to intimidate Ukrainian diplomats and to weaken and intimidate Ukraine,» as well as «undermine the important diplomatic work to ensure the supply of arms and energy equipment to Ukraine, as well as to isolate Russia.»
«They think they can scare us and stop us or weaken Ukraine’s international support. I can see why they want it. Today Ukrainian diplomacy is a powerful force confronting the enemy,» he added.
«We have already stepped up security and are working with national law enforcement agencies of foreign countries to track down and punish the villains. My answer to those behind this is simple: it is useless to try. Ukrainian diplomats must not be intimidated or broken. We will continue to work effectively to protect Ukraine from the enemy and our victory,» he concluded.
