Suspected "Russian Saboteurs" Detained in Germany

Four individuals have been detained in Berlin under suspicion of being involved in a series of vandalism acts, allegedly orchestrated with directives from Russia. According to investigators, the damage caused to vehicles might be part of an operation aimed at discrediting the Green Party ahead of the Bundestag elections, reports NewsBox.

In Germany, four suspects have been apprehended, who investigators believe are linked to a series of vandalism incidents. As reported by Deutsche Welle, the alleged perpetrators are citizens of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Germany. They used construction foam to damage vehicle exhaust systems. Since December 2024, approximately 270 cars have been disabled in a similar manner.

One of the detainees revealed that they were coordinated by a Russian national who issued instructions via a mobile app. Allegedly, participants received 100 euros for each damaged car, along with several thousand euros as initial funding.

Investigators are considering the possibility that these actions were part of a campaign to undermine the Green Party in the lead-up to the snap Bundestag elections, scheduled for February 23, 2025. Many of the damaged cars bore stickers featuring the Green Party candidate Robert Habeck and the slogan "Be Greener!".

Initially, the police suspected that eco-activists were behind the vandalism, but after interrogations, the theory changed. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock suggested that the Kremlin might be involved, attempting to destabilize democracy in Europe.

The German Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) had previously reported an increase in such incidents following the onset of the war in Ukraine. Berlin has already accused Moscow of interference in the 2021 elections and cyberattacks.