German spying: Suspected Russian spies held over sabotage plot

Two suspected spies suspected of planning to sabotage German military aid to Ukraine have been arrested in the southern German state of Bavaria.

The two men, described as having dual German-Russian nationality, were arrested in Bayreuth on suspicion of spying for Russia, according to the prosecution.

The two men are accused of scouting potential targets, including US military installations based in Germany.

The main suspect, Dieter S, is suspected of several offenses.

These include planning an explosion, arson and maintaining contact with Russian intelligence services.

He is also accused of fighting for a Russian-mandated armed force in occupied eastern Ukraine from 2014 to 2016.

The second suspect, identified as Alexander J, is accused of helping him identify potential attack targets since last month. He was due to appear in court on Thursday.

Germany is the second largest donor of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, spending some €28 billion (£24 billion) since the start of the large-scale invasion of the Russia in February 2022.

According to prosecutors, Dieter S had discussed possible sabotage operations in Germany with his Russian contact since October last year, with the aim of undermining his support for Ukraine.

They cite the preparation of explosive attacks and arson attacks, particularly against military and industrial infrastructure. Dieter S reportedly spotted potential targets, including US military installations, taking photos and videos and passing the information to the Russian contact.

According to the Spiegel website, a US army installation in Grafenwöhr, Bavaria, was spied on. Last year, the United States sent dozens of Abrams main battle tanks to Bavaria so Ukrainian soldiers could train at Grafenwöhr and another base in Hohenfels before the tanks were sent to the front line in Ukraine.

German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann told German news agency DPA that the two arrests were “another important investigative success” in the fight against Russian President Vladimir’s sabotage and espionage networks. Poutine.

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, currently on an unannounced visit to kyiv, said Thursday that he was there “at a time when Ukraine needs all the support it can get in its fight for freedom.”

The government in Berlin is at the forefront of a plan to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that EU countries should try to help Ukraine by providing it with additional air defense systems, in particular Patriot systems. Germany has already sent Ukraine two Patriot air defense systems and has promised to send a third.

The two arrests in Bavaria follow several other high-profile espionage cases.

Last summer, a German national working for the military procurement agency was arrested in the western city of Koblenz on suspicion of passing information to Russian diplomats in Bonn and Berlin.