Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in the Bavaria region of Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including against US military facilities, to undermine military support for Ukraine, citing officials, on Thursday the 18th of April, reports Reuters.
One of the suspects, identified as Dieter S., allegedly communicated since October 2023 with a person linked to the Russian secret service about possible plots, the prosecutor’s office said.
A second suspect, identified as Alexander J., is accused of helping him identify potential targets for the attack since last month, the BBC reports.
“Our security authorities have prevented potential attacks with explosives aimed to undermine our military assistance to Ukraine,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “This is a particularly serious case of alleged spying for Putin’s criminal regime.”
Dieter S. was prepared to carry out bombing and arson attacks on military and industrial facilities,
including those used by US forces, prosecutors said, adding that he photographed and filmed military vehicles and equipment and passed this information to the Russian contact.
Reuters, citing information from Spiegel magazine, said the sites included the Grafenwoehr army base in southern Bavaria, where Ukrainian soldiers are trained to use US Abrams tanks.
Prosecutors suspect that Dieter S., whose surname has been not made public due to German law, was active in a Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, between December 2014 and September 2016. In addition, according to prosecutors, he is in possession of a firearm.
News of Thursday’s arrests coincided with a surprise trip to Ukraine by German Economy Minister Robert Habeck.
Germany also issued an urgent appeal for countries to help strengthen Ukraine’s air defences as Russian forces continue to bomb Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
“We will continue to support Ukraine and will not be intimidated,” said Faeser.
Germany has been the second largest provider of military aid to Ukraine (after the US) since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.
Also read: Zelenskyy: deadly strike in Chernihiv “would not have happened” if there had been more air defence systems
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