Sky News reports:
Latvian man suspected of attempted arson in Slovakia reportedly told investigators he was hired via Telegram
A Latvian man suspected of an attempted arson attack on a drone factory in Slovakia reportedly told investigators he was hired through the Telegram messaging app and had contact with several people instructing him, including one who spoke Russian.
This lengthy story about a suspected arsonist seems to be yet another long-winded attempt to pin something on Russia.
But the strange thing is that Slovakia's Prime Minister is Robert Fico, known to be against the EU supporting Ukraine, and Slovakia also remains a primary user of Russian energy in the EU.
So the question Sky News neglected to ask (as usual) is: Cui bono?
And the answer is ... it's not Russia.
It's not explained why Russia would be trying to carry out a sabotage mission in Fico's Slovakia, undermining Slovakian support, when this whole episode only benefits Ukraine and the anti-Fico lobby in the EU and not Russia.
Especially as no sabotage actually took place - perhaps because the whole thing was leaked to the Slovakian authorities before any real damage could be done.
So far two Latvians, who are no fans of Russia, and two Ukrainians (ditto outside the Donbas) have been arrested in connection with the 'attempted arson attack'.
Of course they could all be Russian 'sympathisers' living in Latvia and Ukraine hired to do the job but the whole thing smells a bit fishy and much more like an attempt to poke a stick into Fico by some party other than Russia.
And as for the Russian-speaking 'instructor' on Telegram, that would hardly be unusual now would it given that Telegram is widely used both in Russia and Ukraine where, surprisingly, there are lots of Russian speakers.