Authorities in Germany have detained a Ukrainian man and a Romanian woman on suspicion of spying for Russian military intelligence. The arrests were made as part of an investigation into potential threats against a drone supplier in Bavaria.
The suspects, identified as Sergey N. from Ukraine and Alla S. from Romania, allegedly monitored the activities of a businessman who supplies drones and related components to Ukraine. Investigators discovered chat messages on Sergey N.’s phone, indicating connections to Russian military intelligence.
Reports suggest that the pair conducted surveillance at the businessman’s workplace and registered address, raising concerns that this espionage could be linked to plans for a possible assassination. German security services first received information about a potential threat to the drone manufacturer in mid-December 2025, leading to Sergey N.’s arrest while he was recording footage on his mobile device.
Authorities managed to extract data from his phone, revealing communication with at least one alleged handler in Russia, believed to be affiliated with the GRU. Following his brief detention, Sergey N. fled to Spain after his contact with police.
Sergey N., originally from Kharkiv and a trained mason, had a previous criminal record in Ukraine related to drug offenses. He arrived in Germany as a refugee four years ago and had been residing in Hesse. Investigators suspect that he was recruited by Russian intelligence via the messaging app Telegram.
After Sergey N.’s departure to Spain, Russian contacts reportedly reached out to Alla S. through Telegram. Security officials believe that Sergey N. and Alla S. were likely recruited independently and did not know each other prior to their arrests.
Currently, Alla S. is being held in a German detention facility, while Sergey N. remains in Spain under a travel restriction as he awaits potential extradition to Germany.
German authorities have arrested a Ukrainian man and a Romanian woman for allegedly spying on a drone supplier linked to Ukraine. The investigation suggests ties to Russian military intelligence and potential plans for an assassination.