CNN: US foils Russian sting operation to assassinate pro-Ukraine Rheinmetall CEO
Kyiv • UNN
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.
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
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 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
