Ukrainian man sentenced in Germany for allegedly plotting arson attacks for Russia
A Ukrainian man has received a prison sentence in Germany for allegedly plotting to carry out arson attacks on behalf of Russia.
Source: German news agency dpa, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart sentenced the Ukrainian man to one year and three months in prison.
When the verdict was announced and the explanation of the circumstances of the case began, the court made no comment on the defendant's identity or the specific charges.
Two other Ukrainian defendants were acquitted.
The men were arrested in Konstanz, Cologne and the Swiss canton of Thurgau in May last year. According to an investigation by the Federal Prosecutor General's Office, they are alleged to have taken part in a sabotage plot that targeted the transport routes of a parcel delivery service.
The suspects were accused of sending two parcels containing GPS trackers to Ukraine via the Ukrainian postal service in March 2025. The federal prosecutor alleges that they had been ordered to do this by the Russian intelligence service through intermediaries in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The aim was to gather information about the delivery operator's transport routes and procedures.
According to the charges, the investigation alleges that the next step would have been to send parcels containing incendiary devices that would go off en route. The Federal Prosecutor's Office said the parcels were intended to "catch fire in Germany or elsewhere along the route to territories of Ukraine not occupied by Russia, causing as much damage as possible in order to undermine the population's sense of security".
The charges also state that the three men agreed to send the parcels. However, according to the prosecution, they were arrested while preparing to carry out the attacks.
In his closing statement, the federal prosecutor sought prison sentences for the defendants ranging from two years and nine months to four years and three months. The defence lawyers sought their acquittal.
Background:
- In June, a UK court sentenced Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych to seven years' imprisonment for setting fire to a car and properties linked to then prime minister Keir Starmer in May last year.
- In Lithuania, five people, including two Ukrainians, are to stand trial after being charged with attempting to carry out a terrorist attack on orders from Russian intelligence.
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