On Wednesday in Bayreuth, the police arrested two suspected agents with connections to Russia. According to the Federal Prosecutor General, the two German-Russian nationals are believed to have been working for a foreign secret service in a serious case. They are accused of spying on US bases on behalf of Russia and planning attacks on military transport routes to undermine Germany’s support for Ukraine.
The suspects, Dieter S. (39) and Alexander J. (37), are currently in custody and will be taken to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe. Dieter S. is alleged to have agreed to carry out arson and explosive attacks on military infrastructure to disrupt support for Ukraine. He is also accused of spying on American military installations and providing images to Russian clients. Alexander J., identified as a helper to Dieter S., is said to have supported him in spying activities since March 2024.
The main suspect, Dieter S., had previously been associated with a militia of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2016, which is considered a terrorist organization. The German Minister of Justice, Marco Buschmann, emphasized the need to respond decisively to threats from the Russian power apparatus targeting Germany.
The arrest of these two men represents a significant investigative success in countering Russian espionage efforts. The German authorities are taking a defensive approach to tackle the sabotage and espionage activities linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.