Germany arrests two for alleged military sabotage plot on behalf of Russia

Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on U.S. military facilities, in an effort to undermine military support for Ukraine, prosecutors said on Thursday. Authorities have searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects, who are accused of working for a foreign secret service, the German prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on U.S. military facilities, in an effort to undermine military support for Ukraine, prosecutors said on Thursday.

Authorities have searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects, who are accused of working for a foreign secret service, the German prosecutor's office said in a statement. One of the suspects, identified as Dieter S., had since October 2023 discussed possible plots with a person linked to the Russian secret service, the statement said.

Germany has become one of Kyiv's biggest suppliers of military aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and is a major target for Russian spying operations, authorities have said. Dieter S. had been prepared to carry out bomb and arson attacks on military facilities, including those operated by U.S. forces, the statement said, adding that he took photos and videos of military transport 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 U.S. Abrams tanks. The Russian and U.S. embassies in Berlin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"The actions were intended in particular to undermine the military support provided by Germany to Ukraine against the Russian war of aggression," the prosecutors' statement said. The prosecutors suspect Dieter S., whose last name has not been disclosed due to German privacy laws, was a fighter for Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine from Dec. 2014 to Sept. 2016 in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

He is in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said. In a separate case, prosecutors last month charged an officer in Germany's military procurement agency with attempting to pass secret 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 on Wednesday for countries to help shore up Ukraine's air defences as Russian forces continue to pound Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

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