German prosecutors have charged three men with spying for Russian intelligence and plotting a potential assassination. The arrests took place in Frankfurt on June 19, involving Robert A. (Ukrainian), Vardges I. (Armenian), and Arman S. (Russian). Due to privacy laws, their full names have not been released. Authorities described the case as an especially serious espionage incident, believed to support future intelligence operations that could lead to targeted killings.
The operation centered on a Ukrainian veteran living in Germany. In May 2024, Russian intelligence ordered Vardges I. to track the veteran, who had served in Ukraine’s armed forces after Russia’s invasion in 2022. Vardges I. then recruited Robert A. and Arman S. to locate and monitor the target. The suspects attempted to lure the veteran to a café in Frankfurt to gather more information, but the target alerted German police, preventing the meeting. All three remain in custody as investigations continue.
This case adds to a growing wave of espionage and sabotage linked to Russian intelligence across Europe. On May 16, charges were filed amid heightened concerns about Russian spy operations. In the same month, Germany and Switzerland arrested three Ukrainians for sending explosives to Russian proxies. Earlier, in April 2024, Germany detained two German-Russian suspects accused of planning attacks on U.S. military sites.
Western leaders accuse Russia of orchestrating a range of hostile activities across Europe, including sabotage, arson, cyberattacks, and spying. Germany has uncovered several plots targeting individuals connected to the Ukraine conflict. In July 2024, authorities stopped a plan to assassinate Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. In a 2019 case, Germany sentenced Russian Vadim Krasikov to life imprisonment for murdering a Georgian veteran in Berlin. Krasikov was later exchanged in a 2024 Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap. Officials revealed he had been given a false identity, passport, and full operational support by Russian agents.
The growing pattern of espionage highlights ongoing security challenges in Europe amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. German authorities continue to monitor and respond to threats linked to foreign intelligence efforts.