Russian saboteurs were detained in Germany

18 April, 2024 Special unit GSG 9 of the German Federal Police. The photo is illustrative. Alleged Russian agents who planned a series of sabotage at military facilities in the interests of Russian special services have been detained in Germany.

The German publication Spiegel reported on this. The publication learned from investigators that on April 17, special police forces conducted an operation to detain alleged agents in Bayreuth, Bavaria. Federal Prosecutor General Jens Rommel reportedly arrested two suspects who allegedly planned a series of sabotage attacks in Germany in the interests of an unnamed Russian intelligence service.

Sabotage and espionage

The main defendant is Dieter S., a 39-year-old Russian of German descent from Bavaria.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses him of working for foreign intelligence, planning sabotage operations, and "filming" sensitive military facilities. Investigators are convinced that since October 2023, Dieter S. has been interacting with Russian special services contacts on sabotage operations in Germany. He agreed to carry out arson attacks and plant explosives in military infrastructure, defense enterprises, and industrial facilities.

One of the saboteurs' targets was transportation routes used to transport military cargo. The purpose of the planned attacks was to undermine German support for Ukraine. According to the investigation, Dieter S. also reconnoitered and photographed US military facilities in Germany.

He sent the photos to his Russian contacts. Working alongside the suspected spy was Alexander J., a 37-year-old Russian of German descent, who the Federal Prosecutor's Office now also accuses of being a foreign intelligence agent. He was also arrested in Bayreuth on Wednesday.

According to the publication, the detainees were spying on US military facilities in Grafenwohr, Bavaria.

Among other things, there is an important military training ground where the US Army trains the Ukrainian military, in particular, Abrams tank crew members.

Terrorism and war in Ukraine

The suspected main perpetrator, Dieter S., is no stranger to German security agencies: between 2014 and 2016, the Russian of German descent participated in hostilities in eastern Ukraine in the ranks of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic.

Pro-Russian separatist groups are classified in Germany as terrorist organizations, so Dieter S. is also accused of membership in a terrorist organization and preparation of violent acts.