WASHINGTON — Western intelligence agencies have exposed Russian plots to carry out assassinations, arson and other sabotage in Europe against corporations and related to support for the Ukrainian military; one of the most serious is a plan to kill the head of a German arms manufacturer, a “They plan to kill the head of a German arms manufacturer,” a Western government official said.
The plots involved recruiting common criminals from foreign countries to carry out the attacks, said the official, who is familiar with the scenario but has no right to comment on it and spoke on condition of anonymity. One main plot recently exposed targeted Armin Papperger, chief executive of the defense company Rheinmetall, the official said.
The official declined to provide key points about other plots, which were first reported via CNN. The CNN report said the United States briefed Germany, whose security was able to protect Papperger and thwart the plot.
Rheinmetall is the main supplier of military ammunition and artillery to Ukraine, which is fighting Russian forces. The company opened an armored vehicle maintenance and repair facility in western Ukraine last month and also aims to start production in the country.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson declined to comment on the alleged plot to kill Papperger, but said, “We take Russia’s escalating subversive crusade incredibly seriously and have attacked it intensely over the past few months. “
“The United States has discussed this factor with our NATO allies and we are actively working together to disclose and disrupt those activities,” Watson added. “We have also made it clear that Russia’s moves will not deter allies from advancing into Ukraine. »
Neither Rheinmetall nor the German government would comment Friday on the alleged plot against Papperger. The Interior Ministry commented on “individual risk situations,” spokesman Maximilian Kall said, but added that more generally, “we assume the dramatically increased risk of Russian aggression. ” very serious. “
“We know that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime needs above all to undermine Ukraine’s defense in its defense against the Russian war of aggression, but the German government will not be intimidated,” Kall said.
He noted that German security measures have increased since 2022 and that “threats range from espionage and sabotage to state terrorism and cyberattacks. “
This week’s European assembly for the NATO summit in Washington discussed how to deal with an escalation of “hybrid” attacks that they blame on Russia and its allies.