In Germany, three people were found guilty of espionage and preparation for sabotage in the interests of Russian intelligence services

A court in Germany sentenced three accused of espionage and preparation for sabotage in the interests of Russian intelligence services, writes DW * . The main accused, Dieter S., was sentenced to 6 years in prison for preparing sabotage and participating in military operations in eastern Ukraine; in 2014-2016, he fought in Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian armed groups in the self-proclaimed DPR. The other two defendants were given suspended sentences of 6 months and 1 year.

Those involved in the case are charged with working for the Russian special services, as well as collecting secret information and preparing sabotage on the railway. All three defendants have dual citizenship - Germany and Russia; they were detained in April last year.

According to investigators, the defendants monitored the movements of military equipment and the transportation of ammunition, including those intended to be sent to Ukraine. They also collected information about an oil refinery in Bavaria and about American military personnel at the Grafenwoehr base in the Upper Palatinate.

The investigation also believes that the defendants planned to carry out explosions and arson of military infrastructure and railways in order to complicate the supply of military aid to Ukraine.

* Recognized as a “foreign agent” in Russia.