The United States and Germany have thwarted Russian plans to assassinate the CEO of Rheinmetall, a weapons manufacturer that supplies weapons to Ukraine. This was reported by CNN.
Earlier this year, US intelligence revealed that the Russian government planned to assassinate the CEO of a powerful German arms manufacturer, Armin Papperger. The American News TV channel reported this, citing five American and Western officials familiar with the case.
According to these sources, the assassination attempt was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who support Ukraine’s military efforts.
Reports indicated that the plan to assassinate Armin Papperger was highly elaborate. When the Americans learned about it, they informed Germany, whose security services were able to protect Papperger and thwart the Russians’ plans.
The United States had warned Berlin about Russian plans, according to a senior German government official.
Papperger was an obvious target: his company, Rheinmetall, is Germany’s largest and most successful producer of vital 155mm artillery shells, which have become a key weapon in Ukraine’s defense war against Russian invading troops.
In the coming weeks, Rheinmetall is opening an armored vehicle manufacturing plant in Ukraine, which, according to one source familiar with the intelligence, is a source of deep concern for Russian authorities.
The US National Security Council refused to comment on the existence of the Russian plot and the German warning. But NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said, “Russia’s intensified subversive campaign is something we take extremely seriously and have been paying particular attention to over the past several months.”
Germany has provided the highest level of protection to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger after it became known that Russia was trying to eliminate him, according to The Financial Times.
Papperger told the Financial Times that the German government has provided “a high level of security around my person.” He neither confirmed nor denied reports of an attempted assassination attempt but said that “CNN is not just looking at the sky.”
A source familiar with Papperger’s security measures told the FT that the security measures for his person are “at the highest” level—similar to the protection of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Two NATO diplomats confirmed to the FT the information about the foiled Russian attempt on Papperger’s life, adding that it fits in with Russia’s intentions to increase the number of hybrid attacks and sabotage in Europe.
Earlier, supporters of the left-wing extremist RAF movement said that on the night of April 29, they burned down the garden house of Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, accusing him of “profiteering” from arms sales.
