Two German-Russian citizens have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on US military installations, in an effort to undermine military support for Ukraine, authorities said on Thursday.
Authorities searched the homes and workplaces of two suspects accused of working for a foreign secret service. One of them, identified as Dieter S., discussed possible conspiracies with a person linked to the Russian secret service since October 2023, prosecutors said.
Germany has become one of Kiev's biggest suppliers of military aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and is a key target for Russian espionage operations, officials said.
“Our security officials prevented potential explosive attacks that targeted and undermined our military assistance to Ukraine,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
“It is a particularly serious case of alleged espionage activity for (President Vladimir) Putin’s criminal regime.”
Dieter S. was prepared to carry out bombings and shooting attacks on military installations, including those operated by U.S. forces, prosecutors said, adding that he took photos and videos of military transportation and equipment.
According to Spiegel magazine, the facilities included the Grafenwoehr army base in the southern state of Bavaria, where Ukrainian soldiers receive training to use US Abrams tanks.
The Kremlin said it had no information about the arrests and the Russian embassy in Berlin said it had not been officially notified. The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Prosecutors suspect that Dieter S., whose last name was not released due to German privacy laws, was a fighter for Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine from December 2014 to September 2016 in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.
He was carrying a firearm, prosecutors said.
In a separate case, prosecutors last month accused an official at Germany's military procurement agency of trying to pass classified information to Russian intelligence.
News of Thursday's arrests coincided with a surprise trip by German Economy Minister Robert Habeck to Ukraine.
Germany also issued an urgent appeal for countries to help bolster Ukraine's air defenses as Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
“We will continue to provide massive support to Ukraine and will not be intimidated,” Faeser said.
Source: CNN Brasil

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