CNN: US foils Russian sting operation to assassinate pro-Ukraine Rheinmetall CEO

CNN: US foils Russian sting operation to assassinate pro-Ukraine Rheinmetall CEO

Kyiv  •  UNN

 • 21429 views

Western intelligence agencies have uncovered a Russian plot to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer that supplies Ukraine with ammunition and military equipment.

Western intelligence agencies have exposed Russian attempts to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of German arms manufacturer and automotive supplier Rheinmetall . His company supplies Ukraine with ammunition and military equipment. This was reported by CNN, UNN .

Details

The publication says that the assassination was part of a series of Russian sabotage, including  the assassinations of defense industry executives across Europe who supported Ukraine's war effort

The Americans were the first to expose the plot and warn the German intelligence services, and together the law enforcement agencies managed to thwart the Russian sabotage.

russia is preparing a series of sabotage attacks across Europe - FTMay 5 2024, 07:19 AM • 60641 view

Pepperger was an obvious target: his company, Rheinmetall, is Germany's largest and most successful producer of vital 155mm artillery shells, which have become the main weapon in Ukraine's bitter war of attrition

- CNN writes.

The publication also claims that in the coming weeks the company is opening an armored vehicle factory in Ukraine, and one source familiar with the intelligence community says this is a matter of deep concern for Russia.  

Addendum

It is noted that for more than six months, Russia has been conducting a sabotage campaign across Europe.  It involved local amateurs in everything from setting fire to warehouses related to weapons for Ukraine to minor acts of vandalism.

CNN: US military bases in Europe put on high alert due to sabotage threat from RussiaJul 10 2024, 11:33 AM • 12321 view

CNN emphasizes that all of this is aimed at preventing weapons from the West from entering Ukraine and suppressing public support for Kyiv.

The publication also asked the Russian and US embassies in Washington for comment, but received no response. Oliver Hoffman, a representative of Rheinmetall , also refused to comment on the situation.

Recall

In the spring, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned of Russian spies in the Alliance and called for vigilance, citing recent arrests of suspected Russian agents in Germany and the United Kingdom