Berlin — German authorities have apprehended two individuals suspected of espionage on behalf of Russia. The suspects, known as German-Russian nationals, have been accused of identifying targets for potential attacks, including U.S. military facilities in Germany, as stated by the Federal Public Prosecutor General for Karlsruhe in a press release issued on Thursday.
The arrests, carried out by authorities in the Bavarian town of Bayreuth, occur amidst escalating tensions between Russia and Western nations, following President Vladimir Putin's directive for Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine over two years ago.
Germany has accused the alleged spies of working to undermine the military assistance provided to Ukraine by Germany.
The two individuals, identified by German prosecutors as Dieter S. and Alexander J., reportedly have connections to a Russian intelligence agency and are charged with collecting intelligence on potential targets for sabotage operations.
The detainees were found to have identified potential targets for attacks, such as U.S. Army facilities in Germany, according to the prosecutor.
Dieter S. reportedly indicated his willingness to conduct explosive and arson attacks on military and industrial sites within Germany. The planning phase included collecting information on possible targets, with assistance from Alexander J. since March 2024, and sharing this information with a contact from Russia.
Authorities searched the homes and workplaces of both suspects. An additional arrest warrant was issued for Dieter S. on suspicion of having ties to the foreign terrorist organization DPR — the pro-Russian de-facto government in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, known as the Donetsk People's Republic.
According to a report by German magazine Der Spiegel, the two individuals were allegedly conducting surveillance on military installations, including U.S. military bases in Grafenwoehr, Bavaria. Grafenwoehr serves as a key training site where American forces train Ukrainian soldiers in the operation of U.S.-made Abrams tanks.
The arrests have sparked concerns about the extent of Russian espionage operations in Germany. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser denounced the suspected espionage as a "particularly grave incident" and reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine, despite any attempts at intimidation.
German Politicians Call for Action Against Russian Agents
In light of recent events involving Russian agents in Germany, politicians are urging for a strong response to address the threat. Konstantin von Notz, the Green Party deputy leader and head of the intelligence control committee in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, emphasized the need for action if the allegations against the Russian agents are proven true.
The arrests of suspected Russian agents in Bavaria have raised concerns, drawing parallels to a similar incident in Poland in March 2023. Polish authorities had uncovered a Russian spy network aimed at disrupting Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. The suspects included individuals with criminal backgrounds and refugees from eastern Ukraine, who were allegedly directed by the Russian military intelligence service GRU to carry out acts of sabotage, such as installing cameras along railway lines and derailing trains.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the Russian government has yet to respond to the allegations against the individuals in Germany. The Federal Foreign Office in Berlin has taken action by summoning the Russian ambassador in response to the incident.
