Ukrainian detained in Romania suspected of belonging to Russian spy network
A 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen detained in Bucharest is suspected of being part of a saboteur network controlled by Russian intelligence services, according to Digi24.
Suspect detained in Bucharest linked to weapons cache in Berlin
A 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen detained in Romania is suspected of belonging to a network of agents coordinated by Russian intelligence services, according to Digi24, citing German magazine Der Spiegel, which bases its reporting on anonymous sources.
According to files from a Polish investigation, cited by Der Spiegel, the man boarded a bus from Poland to Berlin on 1 October last year. Upon arrival, he collected two packages containing handguns from the roadside in eastern Berlin, which he subsequently stored in an underground bunker near a lake in the south-east of the city.
The suspect returned to Poland by the same means of transport but was later arrested in Bucharest, alongside a second Ukrainian citizen. The two are suspected of sending packages containing incendiary devices through the Ukrainian courier service Nova Post.
Romanian intelligence services, cited by Der Spiegel, have stated that both suspects are part of a saboteur network subordinate to Russian state services, which targets European states.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said last week that he cannot rule out the involvement of foreign powers in the case. He characterised the suspect as a "low-ranking agent" lacking knowledge of his chain of command, and noted that the man was also detained because he allegedly contributed to preparations for attacks using letter-bomb packages.
Dobrindt also mentioned that German authorities are examining the possibility of requesting the man's extradition from Romania, according to News.ro.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin did not respond to requests for comment. German federal prosecutors declined to comment, and the Polish internal security agency and state prosecutor's office provided no immediate response.
Source: Digi24