Russian Plot to Assassinate Rheinmetall CEO Foiled by US and German Intelligence

Russia sought to eliminate Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, a leading German defense company that supplies military equipment to Ukraine.

A senior NATO official has confirmed that a Russian scheme to assassinate Papperger was thwarted by collaborative efforts of US and German intelligence agencies.

This information, first reported in July 2024, marks the first on-record confirmation of the plot by NATO, German, or American officials.

According to Politico, citing NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber James Appathurai, the plan was part of a broader Russian strategy targeting defense industry leaders across Europe.

Speaking to the European Parliament’s committee on hybrid warfare, Appathurai detailed how Russian operatives use online recruitment, enlisting criminal networks, unwitting youth, or migrants to carry out sabotage and destabilization activities.

“These actions, while often crude, aim to disrupt and create disquiet, undermining European support for Ukraine,” Appathurai stated. He further emphasized that Russia’s strategic approach integrates such acts with broader goals of political interference and infrastructure damage.

The Rheinmetall company, a key player in European defense manufacturing, supplies 155mm ammunition and other military equipment to Ukraine. Its role in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts has made it a significant target for Russian destabilization efforts, according to NATO.

Appathurai also noted the increased frequency of sabotage incidents across NATO countries in recent years, including arson, train derailments, attacks on politicians’ property, and attempts on the lives of key figures in the defense sector.

Highlighting the importance of a unified response, Appathurai urged European nations to shift to a “wartime mindset.”

Earlier, Rheinmetall announced plans to establish four defense factories in Ukraine to boost the country’s self-sufficiency in military production. The first facility, already operational, focuses on Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, while the others will produce gunpowder, NATO-standard ammunition, and air defense systems, aligning Ukraine’s production with NATO standards and replacing outdated Soviet-era capabilities.