Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced the detention of two individuals suspected of gathering intelligence on a German businessman whose company supplies attack drones and their components to Ukraine. According to investigators, the surveillance may have been intended as preparation for a physical attack or sabotage.
The suspects are Sergei N., a 43-year-old native of Kharkiv (Ukrainian citizen), and Alla S., a 45-year-old Romanian national. Sergei N. had been acting on behalf of Russian intelligence since December 2025: he collected information online and conducted covert video surveillance of the company’s facilities and the businessman’s place of residence. From March 2026, he was joined by Alla S., who additionally monitored the entrepreneur’s home address.
Alla S. was detained on March 24 in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (the city of Rheine) by special police units. Sergei N. was arrested earlier in Spain, near Alicante, on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Germany. German authorities have now requested his extradition.
The German businessman’s company previously supplied Ukraine with small kamikaze attack drones and has more recently specialized in delivering components for unmanned systems. Investigators believe the suspects’ activities were aimed at undermining Germany’s military assistance to Ukraine.
The arrest warrants were issued on March 23, 2026, and a remand hearing is scheduled for March 25. The suspects are charged with espionage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.
This is yet another case exposing alleged Russian intelligence activity in Europe against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. German authorities have repeatedly stated that they are stepping up counterintelligence measures against such threats.