Two German-Russian Nationals Arrested in Germany on Suspicion of Spying for Russia

German authorities have arrested two German-Russian nationals, Dieter S. and Alexander J., on suspicion of spying for Russia and plotting sabotage attacks to undermine Germany's military aid to Ukraine.

The men are accused of acting as agents for sabotage purposes, including scouting potential attack targets such as U.S. military sites in Germany and preparing explosives.

Dieter S. is alleged to have been in contact with a Russian secret service agent since October 2023, exchanging ideas about possible sabotage actions intended to undermine Germany's military support for Ukraine. He declared himself willing to carry out bombing and arson attacks on infrastructure used by the military and industrial sites in Germany, and gathered information on potential targets, including U.S. military facilities. Alexander J. allegedly helped him in this endeavor.

Dieter S. also faces separate accusations of belonging to an armed unit of pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2016. The arrests were described as a serious effort by Russian spies to undermine Germany's recent military support for Ukraine.

Why this matters: The arrests underscore the ongoing concerns about Russian espionage activities in Germany, a key NATO ally and the second-biggest supplier of weapons to Ukraine after the United States since Russia's invasion. The German government has vowed to continue providing support to Ukraine and to defend against Russian sabotage and espionage threats.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock summoned the Russian ambassador for an explanation, calling it an "extremely serious suspicion" that Putin is recruiting agents in Germany to carry out attacks. The Russian embassy dismissed the claims as a "provocation," stating that no evidence was provided to prove the detainees' plans or connection to Russian structures.

The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on suspected Russian espionage activities in Germany, including a recent trial of two individuals accused of passing classified material to the Kremlin and an upcoming trial of a man and woman charged with delivering electronic parts to Russia for use in drones deployed in the war on Ukraine.

Key Takeaways

• German authorities arrested 2 German-Russian nationals for spying for Russia.
• The men are accused of plotting sabotage attacks to undermine Germany's military aid to Ukraine.
• Dieter S. was in contact with a Russian agent and gathered info on potential targets.
• The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on suspected Russian espionage in Germany.
• Germany vows to continue providing support to Ukraine and defend against Russian threats.