Two men arrested in Germany for Russian espionage

Two German-Russians were followed ARD information arrested for preparing sabotage operations on behalf of Russia. The aim was to sabotage Germany’s support for Ukraine.

Section 109g of the Criminal Code is in a rarely visited area of ​​the law. Neither law students nor prosecutors typically look at the rule. Only people who were in the Bundeswehr know Section 109g of the Criminal Code. It stands under the signs “Military security area – photography prohibited!”. The two German-Russians Dieter S. and Alexander J. from Bayreuth are said to have violated this regulation. But that should be the least of their problems.

According to information from the Federal Prosecutor General Jens Rommel, they are accused SWR and des ARD capital studios a whole series of other crimes. The headlines above everything are: Illegal operations for the Russian state and against Ukraine. Terrorism and espionage.

Accordingly, not only two departments of the Federal Prosecutor General, but also the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the LKA Bavaria and US authorities have been after the two men in recent months. They believe they have discovered a scenario that they have been fearing since Russia invaded Ukraine: sabotage in Germany to help Russia and harm Ukraine.

Combat operation against Ukraine

The key figure is said to be 39-year-old Dieter S. He has German and Russian citizenship and came to the attention of the security authorities because he is said to have fought armed for a brigade of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” against Ukraine between 2014 and 2016.

The “Donetsk People’s Republic” consists of Ukrainian territory that was annexed by Russia in 2014 and in which a mock referendum on the territory’s alleged independence was held in 2022. In addition to Russia, only Syria and North Korea have so far recognized the People’s Republic diplomatically.

The Federal Prosecutor General classifies Dieter S.’s alleged combat mission as membership in a foreign terrorist organization. A novelty, because this means that the “Donetsk People’s Republic” becomes a terrorist organization. Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) has granted the corresponding authorization to prosecute. A step with great symbolic significance that is likely to have diplomatic consequences.

Infrastructure spied on

But in addition to this terror case, the espionage department of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office is also investigating Dieter S. Since at least October 2023, he is said to have been systematically spying on military terrain, railway lines and other infrastructure and taking photos and videos in order to prepare explosive attacks on supply lines for the Ukrainian military. The motto is: prevent weapons and other material from being brought from Germany to Ukraine. Not only German facilities are affected, but also those of the US military in Germany.

S. passed the collected information on to a contact at a Russian secret service. The 37-year-old Alexander J. is said to have been helping him since March 2024; both apparently knew each other from their time at the “Donetsk People’s Republic”.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office says this is a particularly serious case of “secret service agent activity”. The two men face long prison sentences of up to ten years.

More spies probably

The combination of the different offenses is likely to lead to interesting proceedings in which Russian secret service practices are likely to be discussed that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has long been warning about: spying on critical infrastructure, sabotage of supply routes, attacks on military supplies to Ukraine. And “certainly” the two German-Russians are not the only possible spies, according to investigative circles.

On Wednesday morning, Dieter S. and Alexander J. were arrested and their apartments were searched. According to information from SWR and ARD capital studio The investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice ordered Dieter S. to be taken into custody on Wednesday evening. Alexander J. will be brought before the judge on Thursday morning. The security authorities want to announce details of the case in the morning.