Russian interference suspected after coffins covered in French tricolour found near Eiffel Tower

France is investigating suspected Russian interference after five full-sized coffins covered with the French tricolour were found at the Eiffel Tower over the weekend. Three people were arrested on Monday (Jun 3) after the coffins with the words “French soldiers from Ukraine” written on them were found near the Eiffel Tower.

What we know about the incident

Three men were seen arriving in a van near the Eiffel Tower around 9:00 am (local time) on Saturday (Jun 1). The police later found coffins allegedly placed by them containing sacks of plaster.

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The three men were formally put under investigation on Monday. Each of the coffins, as per reports, was inscribed with the words “French soldiers in the Ukraine”.

It is believed that the inscription is referring to French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement who raised the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. Moscow has since called the suggestion “dangerous”. Media reports citing sources suggested that Paris will soonsend military trainers to Kyiv.

The French police quickly arrested the driver allegedly involved in the incident who said that he had been paid around $44 by two others to transport the coffins. He told the police he had arrived in Paris only the day before from Bulgaria.

The two others were later found at Bercy coach station in central Paris where they were reportedly planning to take a bus to Berlin.

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The duo reportedly told the police that they had been paid around $436 to leave the coffins. The two suspects – a German and a Ukrainian – had travelled to France separately.

A report by French newspaper Le Monde citing a memo from the French domestic intelligence service, the DGSE, suggested the operation was coordinated by the Russian intelligence agency, FSB.

Le Monde citing security sources also said that the three men had been in contact with a man suspected of having sprayed red hands on the Paris Shoah Memorial, a Holocaust museum, last month.

Zelensky’s visit

The incident near the Eiffel Towertook place days before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was due in France for the 80th anniversary of D-day which will take place on June 6, when Allied soldiers landed in Normandy to drive out Nazi German forces during World War Two.

The two leaders are expected to hold talks in Paris the next day. Last week, Ukraine’s top commander said he signed paperwork allowing French military instructors to visit Ukrainian training centres soon.

(With inputs from agencies)