The CEO of a German drone manufacturer is reportedly the target of assassination preparations by a Russian intelligence service, according to information provided by “Die Zeit” and observed by German security authorities.
It is alleged that two agents surveilled the manager at his residence in Bavaria and his company’s registered address between December 2025 and March of this year. During this time, they collected images and videos of the property and compiled online information regarding the CEO. German investigators claim they were warned by a foreign intelligence agency about the situation late last year.
Following this warning, law enforcement arrested a Ukrainian national and a Romanian woman in Spain and North Rhine-Westphalia this spring. The Federal Prosecutor General has since issued arrest warrants for both individuals on suspicion of espionage for a foreign intelligence service. The defendants’ lawyers declined to comment on the request for an interview.
The affected defense manager is currently under personal protection due to the extremely high risk posed to his life. “Die Zeit”‘s research indicates that Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) is continuously being briefed on the situation. Furthermore, the newspaper reports that at least one other German defense company is suspected of being under the surveillance of Russian intelligence services.
The severity of the threat was underscored by recent cross-border incidents. Just weeks ago, two suspects were detained near the Serbian-Hungarian border, close to the city of Subotica. Officials discovered prepared caches of smuggled explosives inside their truck. Investigators reportedly found contacts with the Russian intelligence service on the suspects’ mobile phones. The truck’s intended destination was allegedly a location in Bavaria.
This entire case is subject to the highest level of secrecy in Germany. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the life of another defense manager is endangered.
