U.S., Germany foil alleged Russian plot to assassinate CEO of German arms firm sending weapons to Ukraine
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Russia planned to assassinate the CEO of a major German arms manufacturer that provides artillery ammunition and armored vehicles to Ukraine, but the plot was uncovered and disrupted by U.S. and German authorities, according to a U.S. official and a source with knowledge of the matter.
The alleged plot targeted Armin Papperger, the chief executive of Rheinmetall AG, Europe's largest producer of ammunition, whose company makes 155 mm artillery rounds for Ukraine and plans to open several plants inside the country to produce both ammunition and armored vehicles, including the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle. U.S. intelligence agencies discovered the plan to go after Papperger earlier this year and informed the German government, the sources said.
CNN first reported on the assassination plot.
Papperger was one of a number of defense industry chiefs in Europe to be targeted but the plot against him was believed to be more advanced, the sources said.
The revelations followed recent warnings from NATO's secretary-general, European governments and U.S. officials about an expanding effort by Moscow to disrupt arms deliveries to Ukraine as it tries to defend itself against invading Russian troops.
The White House National Security Council would not comment directly on the specific case involving Rheinmetall, but council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the Biden administration was concerned about the growing threat of Russian sabotage.
"While I don't have a comment on this specific report, Russia's intensifying campaign of subversion is something that we are taking extremely seriously and have been intently focused on over the past few months," Watson said. "The United States has been discussing this issue with our NATO Allies, and we are actively working together to expose and disrupt these activities. We have also been clear that Russia's actions will not deter Allies from continuing to support Ukraine."
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA and the German embassy in Washington all declined to comment.
A Rheinmetall spokesman, Oliver Hoffman, said the company generally does not comment on security matters but said "the necessary measures are always taken in regular consultation with the security authorities."
A spokesperson for the Democratic minority on the House Intelligence Committee declined to comment on the alleged plot but said: "As Putin continues to fail to accomplish his maximalist agenda in Ukraine, Russia has increasingly turned to illegal and aggressive malign activities abroad, including in NATO countries. The Intelligence Committee is closely following these threats, which only strengthen our resolve to support Ukraine."
Russia's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last month, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members planned to impose more restrictions on Russian intelligence agents and to bolster security for key infrastructure to counter Moscow's use of sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation to undercut Western support for Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"We have seen several examples of sabotage, of arson attempts, of cyberattacks, of disinformation," Stoltenberg told reporters.
NBC News has previously reported that Russia is conducting a sabotage campaign across Europe in an increasingly aggressive effort by President Vladimir Putin to undermine Western support for Ukraine, seeking to damage railways, military bases and other sites used to supply arms to Kyiv.
The attempted sabotage includes an alleged Russian-backed arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked warehouse in the United Kingdom, a plot to bomb or set fire to military bases in Germany, attempts to hack and disrupt Europe's railway signal network and the jamming of GPS systems for civil aviation.
A report in February from the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based security think tank, warned that Russia's intelligence service, the GRU, was building a clandestine network of operatives to conduct espionage and potential sabotage operations in Europe.
Rheinmetall's Papperger had announced last month that his company planned to enable the production of Lynx infantry fighting vehicles inside Ukraine "in the near future." And in February, the company signed a memorandum with Ukraine to set up a joint production plant for artillery ammunition. The plant will produce "a six-digit number" of 155 mm caliber artillery rounds in the near future, the company said.
Rheinmetall's collaboration with Ukraine is part of a wider effort by European governments to help Kyiv build up its own defense industry and reduce its reliance on Western assistance.
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Not a new tactic. Not even a new tactic for Russia. It's right out of the KGB playbook though.
Seems kind of desperate for Putin to be taking a direct action against a German citizen and company. Ukraine war may be costing Russia a lot more than planned.
Kind of amazing to me that the citizenry continues to tolerate Putin sending their sons into that pointless meatgrinder.
Putin has been long known for using assassination to solve his problems.
Yet one more reason to not vote for his buddy/slave Trump.
An obvious contradiction.
Not in Putin's world. The KGB always kept their enemies close. Especially the stupid ones like Trump who would fall for Putin's Red Sparrows.
Confusing Trump with Swalwell?
Hoping if you throw enough shit at the wall some will stick or is this blue anon run amok?
Putin has been Russia's premier assassin for decades.
Anybody who doesn't know that is ignorant on the subject.
Putin manufactures blackmail on everybody he can.
Trump was just another whore dog who fell into Putin's trap.
Prove the last one. I could easily say biden is putins lapdog. He waited for biden to start a war and knew biden would slow walk support in hopes putin would win the war in days.
So so script saved by Jennifer’s acting and gorgeous body.
The movie Red Sparrow was based on reality.
Putin has used Red Sparrows for decades.
Trump fucked and was pissed on by Red Sparrows.
Trump is a compulsive whoremonger.
That's how Putin got control of him.
They aren’t good at keeping secrets. Once the truth is out the control ends.
I bet there were a lot of golden showers involving the former 'president' convicted felon and rapist involving underage Russian prostitutes
I believe that's how he met Melania
Those comments are showing some real desperation. I find it hard to believe even you find any of those accusations credible
I will take that bet
Interesting maturity level on that comment
Arvo..we just arrested two Russian spies here...
The Kremlin is having a melt down over it...
I guess ASIO (our spy mob ) does have its uses after all..
Too bad that Perrie allows Russian bots to have a voice here.
Please help her to identify them with your bot detector.
Dune 2 prime went on sale for 10 dollars a couple days early
You for one.
LOL
Twitter / X just banned thousands of Russian sock puppet accounts for spreading psyops level anti-Biden / pro-Trump fake news, memes and rank propaganda! Once released the MAGA spread it like wildfire!
Doesn’t X’s actions run counter to the narrative?
Hey Comrad you would be a traitor if you were an American.
Exactly, I’ve been under cover since I became an US Army officer in 1976. Almost 50 years of evading the man and selling out your country.
You forgot that /s thing again....
Red ravens, but my honey pot operational days will soon be ending.
Yep shots fired. But the left is more sophisticated and tolerant 🤪
It's almost like an alternate reality watching people applaud the genocide of the Ukrainian people by fueling a war they cannot and will not win. Defense contractors have a hold on western governments. Very sad.
There you go!