Two suspected spies suspected of plotting to disrupt Germany's military aid to Ukraine have been arrested in Bavaria, southern Germany.
According to prosecutors, the two men, who have dual German and Russian citizenship, were detained in Bayreuth on suspicion of spying for Russia.
The two men are accused of spying on potential targets, including U.S. military facilities based in Germany.
The main suspect, Dieter S., is suspected of a series of crimes.
These included planning explosions and arson, and maintaining contacts with Russian intelligence services.
He is also suspected of fighting for Russian proxy forces in occupied eastern Ukraine from 2014 to 2016.
The second suspect, identified as Alexander J., has been suspected of helping identify potential targets since last month. He was scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
Germany is the second-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, and has provided approximately 28 billion euros (approximately 2.4 trillion yen) since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Contributing.
According to prosecutors, Dieter S. is suspected of having discussed possible subversive activities in Germany with his Russian contacts since October last year, with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine.
They specifically cite preparations for explosions and arson against military and industrial infrastructure. Dieter S. allegedly scouted potential targets such as U.S. military facilities, took photos and videos, and passed the information to his Russian counterparts.
According to the Der Spiegel website, a US military facility in Grafenwohr, Bavaria, was under surveillance. Last year, the United States sent dozens of Abrams tanks to Bavaria to train Ukrainian soldiers at separate bases in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels before being sent to the front lines in Ukraine.
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann told the German news agency DPA that the arrests were “another important investigative success” in the fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's sabotage and spy networks. Told.
Deputy Prime Minister Robert Habeck, who is currently on an unannounced visit to Kiev, said on Thursday that he was there “at a time when Ukraine needed all the support it could get in its fight for freedom.”
The Berlin government is leading a plan to help strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.
Prime Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that EU countries should seek to support Ukraine with additional air defense systems, especially the Patriot system. Germany has already sent two Patriot air defense aircraft to Ukraine and has promised a third.
Their arrests in Bavaria followed 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 providing information to Russian diplomats in Bonn and Berlin.