The ‘spy’, known only as 21-year-old Daniil M, jumped off a high-security train while in transit from his home nation in search for what his father said was a ‘better life’
Police have launched a frantic manhunt for a potential “Russian spy” after he leaped out of a “sealed train” and into a NATO state after travelling from Russia. The man, named only as 21-year-old Daniil M, went missing as the long distance train crossed between authoritarian Belarus and Russian region Kaliningrad.
Local authorities launched an immediate searched aided by a police helicopter and dog teams, but were unable to find even a trace of the Russian national. Lithuania’s state security service chief said that, while the man was “legally in transit” he appeared to disappear when border guards arrived to check the train.
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The incident comes amid high tension between the West and Russia over the war in Ukraine, and fears of sabotage operations by Vladimir Putin’s secret services in NATO states.
Giedrius Mišutis, of Lithuania’s state security service, said that the only sign of the man’s presence was an opened train door discovered by the conductor. He said: “The train arrived via Kena [on the Belarus border], this Russian citizen had all the necessary documents, he was legally in transit.
“As soon as the Lithuanian border guards showed up, the conductor reported that she had found an open door. The border guards checked the train, but did not find the fugitive. This was reported to the police.”
Pro-Kremlin Baltnews immediately leapt to attack NATO member Lithuania, laying the blame on the country’s state security services. The outlet reported: “Lithuania has been unable to catch a ‘Russian spy’ for 24 hours.
“It is very difficult to find other reasons for the failure of all Lithuanian state services to detect a 21-year-old Russian citizen on the territory of the republic after such a long time.
“Otherwise, they demonstrate complete incompetence.” Trains are permitted to carry Russian passengers on the route under an agreement dating to 2003, but they are sealed and kept under close security, and usually not allowed on or off in Lithuania.
The man went missing when the train slowed near Kybartai as the train – originally from Adler on the Russian Black Sea coast – approached Kaliningrad region.
Police said 25 minutes before the train was due to reach Kybartai railway station, an attendant noticed an open door and a missing man and the alarm was raised.
The fugitive’s father said he was looking for a “good place to live”. The incident comes as Belarus – a close Putin ally – has permitted and even encouraged illegal migrants to cross into EU state Lithuania.
Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic said: “There were no special stops when the incident occurred last night, but trains naturally slow down in certain places and the person most likely took the opportunity to jump off.”