US intelligence discovered that a German arms manufacturer was a target for Russia.
German security services were informed and together they stopped the assassination plans.
– Russia is becoming more and more desperate, says Tony Ingesson, researcher in intelligence analysis at Lund University.
Earlier this year, US intelligence came across information that Russia planned to assassinate the CEO of a German arms company, according to sources CNN.
The target was Armin Papperger, CEO of German arms manufacturer and vehicle supplier Rheinmetall. The company is the largest and most successful German manufacturer of 155 millimeter caliber, which has become the most common artillery shell in the armed forces of Ukraine.
The American intelligence service then warned German security services that could protect Armin Papperger.
It is already known that Russia targeted sabotage operations against the arms supply chain to Ukraine, and that they used local “amateurs” to carry out high-risk crimes. Whether Russia intended to assassinate Papperger directly, or hire someone else for the job, is not clear from the US intelligence reports.
Russian desperation
Tony Ingesson is a researcher in intelligence analysis at Lund University. He sees a certain desperation in Russia’s actions.
– It can be interpreted as Russia becoming more and more desperate to invent things to sabotage arms delivery to Ukraine, says Tony Ingesson, researcher in intelligence analysis at Lund University.
In addition to the motive to prevent Ukrainian arms supply, Tony Ingesson believes that another aspect is the Russian intimidation tactic.
– If leading decision-makers agree and it is suspected that Russia is behind it, then some others may start to shy away from being overly active or speaking out. Maybe then they start to become more reserved, cautious, skeptical and afraid.
“Difficult to keep close”
There are two theories about how the American intelligence service came across this information.
– One possibility could be that something was intercepted via signal tracking and various technical means. But it may well also be the case that there are sources from within Russia who leak information like this, says Tony Ingesson and continues:
– There is a positive part in this then if you read between the lines and that is that this was also revealed. And that suggests that Russia still has a very hard time keeping up.