Two German-Russian nationals, Dieter S. and Alexander J., have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for Russia and collecting information on potential attack targets, including U.S. military facilities. The arrests were made in Bayreuth, Bavaria, where some Ukrainian soldiers have been training at U.S. military installations. The men are accused of working with a Russian secret service agent to undermine international military support for Ukraine. Dieter S. is suspected to be a former fighter for pro-Kremlin forces in eastern Ukraine and is believed to have been planning an explosive or arson attack in Germany.
The men are accused of carrying out activities for sabotage purposes and obtaining security-threatening information about military installations. Dieter S. has been in contact with a person connected to the Russian secret service since October 2023, discussing possible sabotage operations in Germany. He collected information about potential attack targets, including U.S. military facilities, and passed on photos and videos to his Russian contact. Alexander J. is alleged to have helped him in this activity from at least March this year. Dieter S. appeared in court and was placed in pre-trial detention, while Alexander J. is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
A separate arrest warrant accuses Dieter S. of membership of a foreign terrorist organization and of preparation of a serious act of violence that endangers the state. This warrant suggests that Dieter S. was active as a pro-Russian solider in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, participating in the ongoing war for control of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have warned about the presence of Russian spies in Europe, particularly in Germany, who are working to sabotage Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Germany has accused Russia of engaging in an “information war” after Russian state media published a private discussion among high-ranking German military officers about support for Ukraine.
Germany is the second-largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine after the U.S., but there has been a debate within the country about whether more should be done to support Ukraine. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann emphasized the need for a resolute response to the threat posed by Russian spies in Germany, while Interior Minister Nancy Faeser reiterated Germany’s commitment to providing massive support to Ukraine and not being intimidated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the arrests of the two men suspected of spying for Russia. These developments underscore the ongoing security challenges faced by European countries in the context of Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine and attempts to undermine international military support for the country.
