The Latvian Television programme investigative programme De Facto revealed on October 18th that Levushkin had been in business in Russia for almost 18 years as the owner of a Latvian pharmaceutical company called "Elpis".
The State Security Service (VDD) confirmed to De Facto that it has already initiated the procedure to revoke Levushkin's Latvian citizenship.
Leipzig Airport is one of the main routes for delivering military aid to Ukraine. On the evening of August 4 this year, a drone crashed into the wing of a Ukrainian cargo plane there, very close to its fuel tank. The drone contained explosives, but the detonator did not go off. It was only several hours later that an airport employee noticed the crashed drone. The airport suspended flights.
That same night, a second drone allegedly crashed into a DHL cargo plane, which was damaged. A third was found near the airport, also carrying traces of what could be explosives. In September, the German government said Russia was behind the sabotage attempts.
Foreign investigative journalists have named Latvian citizen Oleg Levushkin as one of the possible organizers of the sabotage, whose contacts with the Russian military intelligence service GRU, according to them, began many years ago. GRU Colonel Denis Smolyaninov, who is linked to sabotage in Europe, allegedly helped him resolve a business dispute as early as 2007.
The Insider has alleged that shortly before the attack, on July 13, Levushkin received a call from an arms dealer named Andrei Usachov, who was in the colonel's circle of contacts. Two weeks later, the Latvian citizen arrived in Germany, where his rented car was spotted at Leipzig Airport.
"Levushkin was the one who led and coordinated several Belarusians who were operating drones at the airport. I don't think Levushkin himself piloted any of the drones. I don't think he had the skills to do that. I think he organized the work of this group," Roman Dobrokhodov, editor-in-chief of The Insider, said in an interview with De Facto.
Two years ago, The Insider journalists helped Polish authorities identify the same two men who are now part of Levushkin's group. Back then, they were involved in arson at a store in Lodz. Although both were already known to Polish authorities, they were still free to travel around Europe.
Now, biological traces of one man have been found on the antenna of a Leipzig drone, while the other's possible involvement is indicated by his movement data. Again, they were not arrested. After the attack, Levushkin bought a plane ticket to Moscow and probably fled to Russia.
The VDD confirmed to De Facto that Latvian citizen Levushkin is included in the German investigation. The service is providing German colleagues with information about his previous activities in Latvia, but is not commenting on the investigation in more detail.
On social media, 54-year-old Latvian citizen Levushkin presents himself as an avid motorcyclist. He has posted photos from trips around Russia and participated in international motorcycle races, including on a motorcycle registered in Latvia.
At one time, Levushkin lived in the Zolitude neighborhood of Rīga. In 2004, Levushkin became the sole owner and manager of the Rīga-registered company "Jana SD" for a few months. This company was engaged in retail trade in markets, but was liquidated in 2017. He left Latvia several years ago, but the apartment in which he had lived was sold only in 2023.
Levushkin has been doing business in Russia for a long time. In 2000, the wholesaler of medicines, spices and other goods "IVA" began operating in Pskov - initially as a representative office of the Latvian pharmaceutical company "Elpis".
A few years after its founding, Levushkin and another Latvian businessman, Jānis Leitāns, became co-owners of the Russian company "IVA". Their business cooperation lasted almost 18 years. From 2010, Levushkin also managed the company until he left it in 2021.
The Pskov company is still operating. Leitāns is still its co-owner – he owns 65% of the company's shares. IVA's turnover in 2025 reached approximately 15 million euros, converted from rubles.
Leitāns also controls the Latvian company "Elpis", whose turnover last year reached 47 million euros. The company continues to trade with Russia - according to the annual report, its revenue in this market in 2025 exceeded eight million euros.
Leitāns confirmed in a written response to De Facto that Elpis's cooperation with the Pskov company IVA continues even after Levushkin's departure. Spices, dried vegetables, medicinal herbs and medicines are being delivered to Russia. Leitāns emphasizes that deliveries are taking place in compliance with applicable requirements and sanctions.
Leitāns claimed that he had not contacted Levushkin for more than six years. "The board of SIA Elpis first learned about the information about Oleg Levushkin's possible involvement in organizing sabotage in Leipzig and his possible ties to the special services of the Russian Federation from the media," Leitāns stated.
Levushkin still owns several companies in Russia, mainly in the trade and real estate sectors. One of them was re-registered in occupied Sevastopol in 2025.
Levushkin has a Latvian passport - an advantage that Russian special services use in their operations.
"This is extremely beneficial for Russian intelligence services, because Russian citizens are checked very carefully when crossing the border. Now it is extremely difficult to use them in any operations," explained Roman Dobrokhodov. In turn, people with Latvian passports, such as Levushkin, are more difficult for European security services to control. As Dobrokhodov explained, they can move freely between countries and are not subject to such strict checks as Russian citizens.
"Russia has used this method for a long time with its citizens, who are also trying to obtain citizenships of other countries so that they can operate more freely in different parts of the world," explained Minister of the Interior Jānis Dombrava (National Alliance).
Levushkin has both Latvian and Russian citizenship even though Latvian law does not allow such dual citizenship. The VDD confirmed to De Facto that it has already started the procedure to revoke Levushkin's Latvian citizenship.
He is not alone. In 2025, the VDD recommended revoking Latvian citizenship for 26 people – 19 citizens and seven 'non-citizens' – for unauthorized dual citizenship or support for an aggressor state. This year, the service has recommended revoking Latvian citizenship for another 14 people – 11 citizens and three non-citizens.
The VDD explained that Russian special services recruit people for sabotage both in criminal circles and on the Internet. Recruitment also takes place in Russia itself, where its special services have wider opportunities to influence potential perpetrators. European Union citizenship is an advantage, as it allows for more free movement within the Schengen zone.
The Constitutional Protection Bureau (another Latvian security service) warned that the number and scale of sabotage organized by Russia in Europe has increased significantly in recent months. Attacks are becoming more complex and dangerous, and the risk to civilians is increasing. Russian special services are attracting better-trained agents to carry them out.
It is unclear whether Latvian security services were aware of Levushkin's contacts with the GRU earlier. Neither the VDD nor the Constitutional Protection Bureau disclosed this information.