German prosecutors said on Wednesday they had arrested three Ukrainians accused of plotting sabotage attacks on goods transports for Russia, amid soaring tensions between Moscow and Berlin.
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The suspects, detained in Germany and Switzerland, had told individuals “believed to be acting on behalf of Russian state authorities” that they were ready “to commit arson and explosive attacks on goods transport in Germany”, federal prosecutors said.
The accused allegedly aimed to send packages from Germany containing explosive devices to recipients in Ukraine, which would go off as they were being transported, they said.
Germany has been on high alert for sabotage plots directed from Moscow since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine led to a rapid deterioration in ties.
In a speech to parliament on Wednesday, new Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Russia of targeting Germany and other European countries with acts ranging from cyberattacks, espionage and sabotage to disinformation, poison attacks and murders.
Such acts were “overwhelmingly the work of the Russian government and its helpers”, he said, accusing Moscow of “attempts at division and destabilisation”.