Suspected Russian spies uncovered over plot against drone maker in Germany

Two individuals have been detained on suspicion of gathering intelligence on a German supplier of drones for Ukraine on behalf of Russia, in preparation for a possible attack or sabotage. One was detained in Germany and the other in Spain at Germany's request.

Source: German newspaper Spiegel, citing its sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Germany's Federal Prosecutor General has reportedly issued arrest warrants for two suspected Russian assets who had been surveilling a German entrepreneur whose company manufactures military UAVs and components supplied to Ukraine.

The detainees are 43-year-old Kharkiv resident Serhii N. and 45-year-old Romanian citizen Alla S.

Alla was detained in Germany in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, while Serhii was detained in a Spanish town near Alicante at Germany's request.

The arrests were the result of a thorough investigation by counterintelligence units from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Bavarian State Criminal Police.

Investigators have found that since December 2025, Serhii had been systematically collecting intelligence on the German drone manufacturer, including by covertly filming its facilities.

Alla joined the surveillance in March. She is believed to have identified the entrepreneur's home address, visited the location and secretly photographed the house using her phone.

The investigators believe the purpose of collecting the information was to prepare "further actions against the target", possibly including a physical attack or assassination.

The detainees have been charged with espionage and are due to appear before a court on 25 March to determine further measures. In Serhii's case, Germany is seeking his extradition.

The journalists learned the name of the entrepreneur concerned but are not disclosing it or the name of the company. The individual said he had already begun taking security measures some time ago, recognising the risks associated with his line of work.

The company initially supplied loitering munitions to Ukraine and more recently has mainly been supplying UAV components.

Background:

• At the beginning of 2025, NATO officially confirmed that Russia had planned an assassination attempt on Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger.
• In Czechia, three suspects were detained over an arson attack on a warehouse belonging to an arms factory in Pardubice, including citizens of Czechia and the United States.

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