Two Arrested in Germany on Suspicion of Spying for Russia

Two individuals have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for Russia and preparing acts of sabotage. According to the magazine Der Spiegel, the operation took place in the city of Bayreuth (in the federal state of Bavaria).

The arrested include 39-year-old dual Russian-German citizen Dieter S. and 37-year-old Alexander Y. from Bavaria. Investigators suspect that Dieter S. has been exchanging information with Russian special services regarding acts of sabotage occurring in Germany since October 2023.

It has been reported that he agreed to carry out arson and explosions targeting military infrastructure, defense enterprises, and industrial sites, as noted by Der Spiegel. The magazine indicated that the targets of the sabotage were transport routes used for the delivery of military cargo.

The attacks were allegedly planned in order to ultimately disrupt the support that Germany provides to Ukraine. Additionally, Dieter S. is said to have researched and photographed U.S. military sites in Germany, forwarding the corresponding images to the Russian side, according to Der Spiegel.

Among the military facilities under surveillance were U.S. installations in Grafenwöhr, where a large military training area is located, where the U.S. trains Ukrainian military personnel, particularly in operating Abrams tanks. Dieter S. has reportedly fought on behalf of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic from 2014 to 2016.

The man is also accused of having been a member of a terrorist organization abroad, as the publication highlights. The German prosecutor's office has also launched an investigation against him on suspicion of preparing acts of violence threatening the state, the periodical reports.

According to the magazine, Germany's chief prosecutor Jens Rommel has arrested the two alleged agents. The German prosecutor's office accuses Dieter S. of engaging in espionage and acting as an agent for sabotage purposes, while Alexander Y. is accused of engaging in activities on behalf of intelligence services. Both Dieter S. and Alexander Y. were transferred on Wednesday to Karlsruhe and appeared before investigative judges of the Federal Court. Both have been detained.