German prosecutors have charged three men with spying on a former Ukrainian soldier, in what authorities suspect was a Russian intelligence-backed assassination plot.
The suspects—identified only as Ukrainian national Robert A., Armenian Vardges I., and Russian citizen Arman S.—were arrested in Frankfurt last year. They now face charges of working for a foreign intelligence service, a case prosecutors described as “particularly serious.”
According to investigators, Vardges I. was tasked by Russian intelligence in May 2024 with surveilling a Ukrainian man who had fought against Russia after its 2022 invasion. He then recruited the other two suspects to assist.
The trio allegedly tried to lure the target to a Frankfurt cafe on June 19, 2024. However, the intended victim, already in contact with German authorities, did not show up. All three men were arrested at the scene.
Prosecutors say the surveillance operation “presumably served as preparation for further intelligence operations in Germany, possibly including the assassination of the target.”
The case is one of several recent espionage scandals tied to Russia. Other suspects—both foreign nationals and German citizens—are currently on trial or have been sentenced for passing secrets or planning sabotage on Moscow’s behalf.
