Moscow summoned a Canadian diplomat on November 8 to rebut Western allegations that Russia's secret services had orchestrated a campaign to mail explosive packages to addresses in NATO countries, including Canada.
After a series of fires at DHL depots in Britain and Germany during the summer, Russia was accused of being behind a brazen plot to ship explosive parcels via commercial airliners.
Ottawa expressed its concern earlier this week to Russian officials after Poland and Lithuania announced several arrests as a result of a probe into attempts to send parcels packaged with explosives on cargo flights to the United States and Canada.
"The deputy head of the Canadian diplomatic mission in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note in connection with false accusations of allegedly planned 'Russian sabotage' against NATO countries," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in post on Telegram.
Moscow said the Canadian diplomat "was told that these speculations" were being spread in a "coordinated manner, in the context of the hybrid war" being waged against Russia by the West.
Russia blasted the allegations as "false," "unacceptable," and part of a "provocation" being led by the United States, the ministry said.
Canada's Public Safety Ministry said Ottawa was "aware of and deeply concerned with Russia's intensifying campaign, from cyber-incidents and disinformation operations to sabotage activities."
It confirmed the Canadian government had "expressed this concern directly to Russian officials and unequivocally stated that any threat to the safety and security of Canadians is unacceptable."
The ministry added there was "no imminent threat" to the public but said Canada "will continue to monitor the situation very closely."
Canadian Transport Minister Anita Anand told reporters on November 6 that she required "more information" on the alleged plot but said she would taking "additional steps" to ensure the safety of passengers and packages but provided no details.
Many Western intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of involvement in sabotage acts in Europe as well, which they have said are targeted at destabilizing allies of Ukraine.
