German federal prosecutors announced on Thursday the arrest of two suspected Russian spies on suspicion of planning acts of sabotage to undermine military support for Ukraine. The two men, who also have German nationality, were arrested in Bayreuth, a town in the Bavaria region, the anti-terrorist prosecution said in a press release. Identified as Dieter S. and Alexander J, they are accused of having carried out scouting for potential targets for attacks, including
“installations of the American armed forces”
stationed in Germany.
Police also searched the homes and workplaces of the two men on Wednesday. They are suspected
of “having been active for a foreign intelligence service”
in what prosecutors describe as a
“particularly serious case”
of espionage. The main accused, Dieter S., had been exchanging information with a person linked to Russian intelligence services since October 2023 with a view to possible acts of sabotage on German territory.
“The actions were aimed in particular at undermining Germany's military support for Ukraine
(to defend itself)
against the Russian war of aggression
,” prosecutors said.
“Explosive attacks” and “arson”
Dieter S. reportedly declared himself ready to this contact to
“commit bomb attacks and arson attacks, mainly against military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany”
. Alexander J. joined him from the end of March 2024, according to the prosecution. Dieter S. took photos and filmed videos of certain potential targets such as transports and military equipment, then allegedly communicated this information to his contact.
Dieter S. is also accused of belonging to a foreign terrorist organization, with prosecutors suspecting him of having been a fighter in a
“Donetsk People's Republic”
armed unit in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2016 Germany has been shaken by several cases of alleged espionage on behalf of Russia since the invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of 2022. A former German secret agent is currently on trial in Berlin for having transmitted. information classified as secret to the Russian security services (FSB) in the fall of 2022, an accusation he categorically denies.