Germany detains two suspected Russian spies

Two German-Russian citizens have been arrested in Bavaria on suspicion of spying for Russia and planning explosions and arson. Their goal was to undermine Berlin's military support for Ukraine, AFP reported.
The couple, identified only as Dieter S. and Alexander J., were arrested in the southeastern German city of Bayreuth on April 17, federal prosecutors said.
The main defendant, Dieter S., is said to have scouted potential targets for attacks "including US Armed Forces facilities" located in Germany.
On April 17, police officers searched the residences and workplaces of the two men.
They are suspected of "working for a foreign intelligence service" in what prosecutors described as a "particularly serious case" of espionage.
According to prosecutors, Dieter S. exchanged information with a person connected to Russian intelligence services from October 2023, discussing possible acts of sabotage.
"The actions were aimed in particular at undermining the military support provided by Germany to Ukraine against Russian aggression," prosecutors said.
The defendants are said to have expressed a willingness to "carry out explosive and arson attacks, mainly against military infrastructure and industrial sites in Germany."
To that end, Dieter S. has been collecting information on potential targets, "including US Armed Forces facilities."
The accomplice of the accused Alexander Y. started helping him from March 2024 at the latest.
Dieter S. scouted some of the potential targets by taking photos and videos of military vehicles and equipment. He then allegedly shared the information with his contact.
A separate charge of belonging to a foreign terrorist organization has also been brought against Dieter S., as prosecutors have serious suspicions that in 2014-2016 he was a fighter of an armed unit of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" in Eastern Ukraine./ BGNES