A Ukrainian citizen and a Romanian national detained on suspicion of surveilling a German drone supplier for Ukraine were acting on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence, the GRU, Der Spiegel reports.
More evidence is emerging that the operation was directed from Moscow.
According to Der Spiegel, the suspects—Ukrainian Serhii N. and Romanian citizen Alla S.—conducted espionage activities in Germany for the GRU. Investigators cite chat messages found on Serhii N.’s phone in December as key evidence.
Surveillance of businessman and murder plot
The suspects monitored a Bavarian entrepreneur who supplies drones and related components to Ukraine. They filmed both his workplace and registered address. Investigators believe the surveillance may have been part of preparations for an assassination.
German security services first received information about a potential threat to the drone manufacturer in mid-December. Shortly after, police detained Serhii N. at the businessman’s address while he was recording footage on his phone. Although briefly held, authorities managed to copy data from his device.
Detention and escape: actions after exposure
Chat data indicates that Serhii N. maintained contact with at least one handler in Russia, identified by security services as linked to the GRU. Soon after his interaction with the police, he left for Spain.
According to investigators, Serhii N. is originally from Kharkiv and worked as a bricklayer. In 2011, he faced criminal charges in Ukraine related to drugs. He arrived in Germany as a refugee four years ago and lived in Hessheim, Rhineland-Palatinate. Authorities believe Russian intelligence recruited him via Telegram.
Recruitment via Telegram and diverging paths of the suspects
After Serhii N. fled to Spain in December, Russian handlers contacted Alla S. through Telegram. Security officials believe the two suspects were recruited independently and did not know each other.
Alla S. is currently in pre-trial detention in Germany. Serhii N. remains in Spain under travel restrictions, awaiting possible extradition to Germany.
