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First Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Germany arrests three Ukrainians accused of plotting explosions for Russia
All three are 'strongly suspected' of working as foreign agents and planning acts of sabotage, including arson and explosive attacks, prosecutors said read more German national flags catch the sun on top of the German parliament building, the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany. File Image - AP German prosecutors said Wednesday (May 14) that three Ukrainian nationals have been arrested in Germany and Switzerland over an alleged plot to carry out sabotage attacks on goods transports linked to Russia, as tensions between Moscow and Berlin continue to escalate. The suspects are accused of offering to commit arson and explosive attacks inside Germany on behalf of individuals believed to be acting for Russian state authorities, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Authorities allege the group planned to mail explosive devices from Germany to Ukraine, where the packages would detonate during transportation. The plot is being treated as an act of foreign intelligence service activity intended to destabilize German infrastructure. Two of the suspects, identified only as Vladyslav T. and Daniil B. in accordance with German privacy laws, were arrested in the German cities of Cologne and Konstanz. The third, Yevhen B., was detained in the Swiss canton of Thurgau and is expected to be extradited to Germany and brought before a judge. Test packages and explosives plot Prosecutors said Vladyslav T. posted two test packages containing GPS trackers in Cologne in late March. The operation was allegedly coordinated by Yevhen B., who supplied the contents of the packages through Daniil B. All three are 'strongly suspected' of working as foreign agents and planning acts of sabotage, including arson and explosive attacks, prosecutors said. Vladyslav T. and Daniil B. have been remanded in custody. The arrests come amid heightened concern in Berlin over Russian-sponsored sabotage efforts in Europe, particularly as Germany continues to provide military and economic support to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Germany on alert for Russian interference In a speech to parliament Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Moscow of orchestrating a broad campaign of aggression against European states that includes cyberattacks, espionage, disinformation campaigns, and targeted killings. 'These are overwhelmingly the work of the Russian government and its helpers,' Merz said. 'Russia is engaging in deliberate attempts at division and destabilisation.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Germany, Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, has been rocked by a series of suspected Russian plots in recent years. Intelligence agencies have linked Moscow to cyberattacks on political parties, the recruitment of low-level operatives for sabotage operations, and the alleged penetration of Germany's own intelligence services. In a separate case, European security officials believe Russian operatives were behind a plot to plant explosive devices on cargo planes last year. Parcels exploded at two DHL depots in July, though no casualties were reported. Moscow-Berlin relations at historic low Germany's ties with Russia have deteriorated sharply since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Berlin has joined Western allies in imposing sweeping sanctions on Moscow and has ramped up military support for Kyiv. Despite Russian denials of involvement in the alleged sabotage and espionage campaigns, German officials have vowed to remain vigilant and continue supporting Ukraine. 'There must be no doubt where we stand,' Merz said. 'Namely, on the side of this attacked country.' With inputs from AFP
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Germany detains Ukrainians in alleged Russia-backed sabotage plot, media reports
German authorities have accused three Ukrainian nationals of an alleged Russia-orchestrated plot to send out parcels with explosives in Europe, Der Spiegel news outlet reported on May 14. Two of the suspects were reportedly detained over the weekend, and the third on May 13, during police raids in Germany and Switzerland. The West has accused Russian intelligence services of a number of sabotage attacks across Europe as Moscow hopes to destabilize countries supporting Ukraine. Vladyslav T., Daniil B., and Yevhen B. are suspected of plotting aggravated arson and bombing attacks on behalf of Russian authorities. The investigators said that the suspects had already begun preparations by sending test parcels with GPS trackers to Ukrainian addresses. Yevhen is believed to have purchased the trackers in Switzerland and sent them to the two other men in Cologne and Konstanz, from which they were shipped to Ukraine. This was meant to help the suspects identify the transport routes. Earlier this week, Poland charged two Ukrainians in connection with suspected Russian-backed arson attacks at an IKEA store in Vilnius and a Warsaw shopping mall in 2024. Russia is also believed to be responsible for a fire that broke out in July 2024 in an airport hub run by the DHL courier in Leipzig, Germany. A flammable package was reportedly sent from Lithuania by plane and marked for delivery to a fake address in Birmingham, U.K. Read also: Despite the hype, EU's latest Russia sanctions 'not as strong as they should be' We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
RTÉ News
14-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Germany arrests three Ukrainians suspected of spying in exploding parcel plot
Three Ukrainians have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the shipment of exploding parcels, German prosecutors said, after a series of fires at European courier depots pointed to suspected Russian sabotage. Parcels detonated at depots in Britain, Germany and Poland last summer added to an air of suspicion in Europe, where intelligence officials have warned of a growing threat from hybrid attacks in the wake of the Ukraine invasion. The suspects are believed to have been in contact with individuals working for Russian state institutions, federal prosecutors said in a statement. Two of the men, identified in line with German privacy laws only as Vladyslav T. and Daniil B., were arrested over the weekend in Germany. Another, identified as Yevhen B., was arrested yesterday in Switzerland. "The defendants are strongly suspected of acting as agents for the purpose of sabotage," the statement said, accusing them of agreeing to commit serious arson and procure explosives. Security officials said the exploding parcels at logistics depots in Europe were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States. Russia denied this. Prosecutors did not specify whether the parcels were aimed at air or overland transport. Thomas Haldenwang, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, told a parliamentary committee in October that Germany had only narrowly escaped a plane crash when an air freight parcel caught fire. Authorities have warned businesses of the threat and logistics firm DHL took measures to protect its network following several fires at its warehouse in Leipzig. Prosecutors in Germany said the three suspected agents had agreed with one or more Russian state actors to send devices in the post to recipients in Ukraine in a plot that was active until at least the end of March 2025. In order to assess possible routes, Vladyslav T. submitted two test parcels in Cologne in late March containing GPS trackers, they said. The order was placed by Yevhen B., who provided the contents of the parcels with the help of Daniil B., according to the statement.
Euronews
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Germany arrests three Ukrainians over Russian 'sabotage' attacks
Three Ukrainians have been arrested in Germany and Switzerland on suspicion of acting as agents for Russia in a plot involving parcel bombs, German prosecutors said on Wednesday. The men are suspected of being secret agents for the purpose of sabotage and agreeing to commit arson and bring about an explosion, federal prosecutors said in a statement. Apparently working at the behest of people acting for Russia, the suspects planned to send parcels containing explosive or incendiary devices from Germany to Ukraine, with the devices designed to detonate during freight transport, according to the prosecutors. Two of the men — identified only as Vladyslav T. and Daniil B. in line with German privacy rules — were arrested in different parts of Germany on Friday and Saturday respectively. The third man — identified as Yevhen B. — was arrested on Tuesday in the northern Thurgau region of neighbouring Switzerland. The suspects are accused of telling "one or more people suspected to be acting on behalf of Russian state agencies" around March that they were prepared to carry out attacks on freight transport in Germany, prosecutors said. The alleged plan was for the men to send packages that would explode while being transported to Ukraine. One of the suspects — Vladyslav T. — sent two "test packages" in Cologne at the end of March that contained GPS trackers to scope out possible means of transport, according to prosecutors. He was allegedly tasked with doing so by Yevhen B., who is accused of providing the contents of the packages via Daniil B. Berlin has been closely monitoring the threat of sabotage plots by Moscow following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Experts told Euronews that the alleged plot could be an example of hybrid warfare from Russia, which combines conventional military operations with a range of non-military tactics in a bid to achieve its strategic objectives while ensuring plausible deniability. "The goal is to exploit an adversary's vulnerabilities in multiple areas to create ambiguity," said Olha Danchenkova, co-founder of Ukraine-based communications agency Calibrated and PR Army, an NGO. "These tactics include cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, economic coercion (such as dependence on oil and gas), diplomatic pressure, arming migrants (as in Belarus), corruption, interfering in elections and the use of proxy forces," she told Euronews. Ihor Solovei, head of the Ukrainian Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security, told Euronews that the arsenal of hybrid aggression includes a wide range of instruments, including disinformation. "Here's an example: in 2022, Russia captured Mariupol using traditional methods of warfare — artillery, armoured vehicles, aviation and infantry. It was a classic military operation," he said. "Years earlier, in 2014, Russia captured Donetsk using hybrid warfare methods. As a result of information and propaganda operations, part of the local population turned against the central government."
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Straits Times
Germany arrests three Ukrainians suspected of spying in exploding parcel plot
BERLIN - Three Ukrainians have been arrested for their suspected involvement in the shipment of exploding parcels, German prosecutors said on Wednesday, after a series of fires at European courier depots pointed to suspected Russian sabotage. Parcels detonated at depots in Britain, Germany and Poland last summer added to an air of suspicion in Europe, where intelligence officials have warned of a growing threat from hybrid attacks in the wake of the Ukraine invasion. The suspects are believed to have been in contact with individuals working for Russian state institutions, federal prosecutors said in a statement. Two of the men, identified in line with German privacy laws only as Vladyslav T. and Daniil B., were arrested over the weekend in Germany. Another, identified as Yevhen B., was arrested on Tuesday in Switzerland. "The defendants are strongly suspected of acting as agents for the purpose of sabotage," the statement said, accusing them of agreeing to commit serious arson and procure explosives. Security officials told Reuters the exploding parcels at logistics depots in Europe were part of a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States. Russia denied this. Prosecutors did not specify whether the parcels were aimed at air or overland transport. Thomas Haldenwang, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency, told a parliamentary committee in October that Germany had only narrowly escaped a plane crash when an air freight parcel caught fire. Authorities have warned businesses of the threat and logistics firm DHL took measures to protect its network following several fires at its warehouse in Leipzig. Prosecutors in Germany said the three suspected agents had agreed with one or more Russian state actors to send devices in the mail to recipients in Ukraine in a plot that was active until at least the end of March 2025. In order to assess possible routes, Vladyslav T. submitted two test parcels in Cologne in late March containing GPS trackers, they said. The order was placed by Yevhen B., who provided the contents of the parcels with the help of Daniil B., according to the statement. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
