Germany charges three men with spying for Russia

Spiegel reported the information.

Men with German and Russian citizenship are accused of agent activities in favor of Russian special services. 

The main defendant in the case is 40-year-old Dieter S. from Bayreuth. He is accused of agent activity for the purpose of sabotage, taking photographs of military facilities that threaten security, and conspiracy to dangerously interfere with rail traffic. 

His accomplices are 38-year-old Alexander J. and 43-year-old Alex D., who supposedly studied potential targets in Bavaria. According to the investigation, these targets included the U.S. military training ground in Grafenwöhr, where Ukrainian military personnel are trained, and a factory near Bayreuth that produces weapons. 

Dieter S. also spied on a cargo station in Parsberg, which is used to handle military transport.

The investigation found that the suspects were considering sabotage of German military infrastructure, including explosions and arson, to weaken Berlin's military support for Ukraine.

The main defendant had close contacts with Russian special services and, according to the investigation, participated in hostilities on the side of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic.

• In April, the German Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in connection with the exposure of two Russian spies who worked for Russia's intelligence services and sought to organize sabotage at military infrastructure facilities to undermine support for Ukraine.