German prosecutors charged three men with spying for Russia and planning a possible murder. The arrests took place on June 19, 2024, in Frankfurt. The suspects include Robert A. (Ukrainian), Vardges I. (Armenian), and Arman S. (Russian). Privacy laws prevent officials from releasing their full names. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office called the case particularly serious. Prosecutors say the operation aimed to support further Russian intelligence activities. This could have included assassination.
In May 2024, Russian intelligence ordered Vardges I. to monitor a Ukrainian war veteran living in Germany. Vardges I. recruited Robert A. and Arman S. to find and watch the man. They planned to lure him to a cafe in Frankfurt to gather information. However, the meeting never happened. The veteran had already contacted German police. The three suspects remain in custody.
The charges were filed on May 16 amid a rise in Russian espionage cases in Europe. Earlier in May 2024, police arrested three Ukrainians in Germany and Switzerland. They were suspected of plotting parcel bomb attacks. In April 2024, two German-Russians were arrested for planning sabotage. Their targets included US military sites.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Western officials accuse Russia of many hostile actions. Germany has linked Russia to assassination attempts on people connected to Ukraine. In July 2024, German intelligence stopped a plan to kill Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.
Germany’s history with Russian assassination attempts is long. In 2019, Russian Vadim Krasikov was convicted for murdering a Georgian ex-soldier in Berlin. He was sentenced to life in prison. However, Krasikov was released in 2024 during a prisoner swap with Ukraine. Judges said Russian authorities gave him fake documents and full support.
These recent arrests highlight growing tensions in Europe. They show how Russian intelligence may be increasing efforts to spy and carry out attacks. German authorities remain alert to such threats. They continue to work closely with other countries to prevent violence.
