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Germany Detains Two Suspects in Russian Spy Plot Targeting Drone Supplier to Ukraine
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Authorities in Germany have detained a Ukrainian man and a Romanian woman on suspicion of monitoring a German company that provides drones to Ukraine.
Investigators believe the individuals were operating under the direction of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, according to Der Spiegel on April 1.
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Reports from Der Spiegel identify the suspects as Serhiy N., a Ukrainian national, and Alla S., a Romanian citizen. Evidence gathered from chat logs on Serhiy N.'s phone, discovered in December, reportedly links the pair to Russian intelligence operations.
The investigation suggests the suspects were tracking a businessman in Bavaria whose company supplies drones and essential components to Ukraine.
The individuals allegedly filmed the entrepreneur's place of business and residential address. Security officials suspect this surveillance may have been part of an initial phase in a plot to assassinate the businessman.
German security agencies first identified a potential threat to the drone manufacturer in mid-December 2025. Shortly after, police detained Serhiy N. at the businessman's registered address while he was recording footage on his mobile phone.
Law enforcement officials recovered data from the device showing communication between the suspect and at least one handler in Russia. Security services identify this contact as a representative of the GRU. Following a brief initial detention and contact with the police, Serhiy N. traveled to Spain.
Serhiy N. is originally from Kharkiv and worked as a bricklayer. Records show he faced drug-related criminal charges in Ukraine in 2011. He arrived in Germany four years ago as a refugee and lived in the town of Hessheim. Investigators believe he was recruited by Russian intelligence through the Telegram messaging app.
After Serhiy N. left for Spain, Russian handlers reportedly contacted Alla S. through the same platform. Intelligence sources suggest that the two suspects were recruited independently and did not know each other.
Alla S. is currently being held in a detention center in Germany. Serhiy N. remains in Spain under travel restrictions while awaiting a potential extradition back to Germany to face charges.
Following the report from March 2026, Sinan Selen, the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, warned that Russia had intensified its hybrid attacks against the country.
He noted that Moscow viewed Germany as a primary opponent and had become increasingly willing to employ aggressive methods, including potential "kill operations."
According to the intelligence findings, foreign operatives specifically targeted the defense industry and logistics sectors to disrupt support for Ukraine. These activities were part of a broader pattern of over 150 Russian-linked hybrid attacks recorded across Europe since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
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