Germany Charges Three With Spying, Plotting Ukrainian Assassination

German prosecutors have charged three men—a Ukrainian, an Armenian, and a Russian—with spying for Russian intelligence, possibly with the intent to kill a former Ukrainian soldier living in Germany. The Armenian suspect, Vardges I., was instructed by Russian intelligence to spy on the man, who had fought in Ukraine's armed forces and was accused by Russian media of war crimes. To carry out the mission, Vardges I. recruited Robert A., a Ukrainian, and Arman S., a Russian, and attempted to lure the target to a meeting in a Frankfurt cafe in June 2024, which was aborted after German police warned the target. The case is part of a broader pattern of alleged Russian espionage and sabotage activities across Europe, including recent arrests related to explosive parcels and sabotage plots targeting military infrastructure. The suspects remain in custody as German authorities continue investigations, underscoring European security concerns about hybrid attacks by Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office considers the spying operation as potentially preparatory for further intelligence operations in Germany, possibly culminating in assassination.