German police have apprehended and charged two individuals with being Russian secret agents plotting to bomb industrial and military installations in Germany, aiming to disrupt aid deliveries to Ukraine.
The two suspects, German-Russian nationals Dieter S, aged 39, and Alexander J, aged 37, were captured during raids conducted by police special forces in the town of Bayreuth in southeast Germany on Wednesday morning, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.
Authorities allege that Dieter S and Alexander J were in contact with Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU) to orchestrate acts of sabotage within Germany. The GRU has faced accusations from Western governments for various incidents, including the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018, as well as other lethal attacks across Europe, such as a fatal incident in Berlin in 2019.
The arrests highlight a growing boldness and risk appetite within the Kremlin, as Russia intensifies its covert activities in Europe. The suspects reportedly scouted potential targets, including the US military base at Grafenwöhr, Bavaria, where Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing training with M1 Abrams tanks. They also identified industrial and transport facilities as possible targets, documenting these locations with photographs, videos, and maps.
Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, described the thwarted plot as a serious case of alleged espionage activity aimed at undermining military assistance to Ukraine. She pledged continued support for Ukraine and vowed not to be intimidated, stating that authorities are working to identify the broader network associated with the two suspects.
Dieter S had been under surveillance by German security authorities for some time, with records indicating his involvement as a fighter for Russian-led separatists in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region between 2014 and 2016, according to the German federal prosecutor.
Germany has become a primary target for Russian clandestine operations in Europe, particularly due to its role as the continent’s largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine. The country’s government has shifted its policy toward Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to increased tensions between the two nations.
Russian intelligence agencies have sought to exploit German concerns about supporting Ukraine and weaknesses in the country’s domestic security infrastructure, which remains relatively permissive compared to other NATO states due to historical apprehensions regarding government surveillance and policing.
