German intelligence has uncovered a secret weapons stash hidden in a forest near Berlin that investigators believe was planted by Russian security services for use in assassinations and sabotage operations across Europe.
The discovery, first reported by public broadcasters NDR and WDR alongside the Süddeutsche Zeitung, was made in woodland in Brandenburg. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), has obtained evidence the stash functioned as a “dead letterbox” – a covert drop site known only to sender and recipient, used to pass materials between Russian intelligence officers and their operatives.
Intended for ‘kinetic operations’
German security authorities now believe the weapons were hidden for agents acting on Moscow’s orders who were to carry out “kinetic operations,” or acts of physical violence. The head of the BfV, Sinan Selen, had warned months ago that Russia could carry out assassinations on German soil, with possible targets including defence industry managers, opposition figures in exile, and supporters of Ukraine.
Investigators said no one was observed attempting to collect the weapons after the cache was found, leading them to believe that the intended agent or agents had learned of the discovery and deemed the site “dead.” Germany is now seeking to extradite a suspect from Romania in connection with the operation, according to The Guardian.
Pattern of Russian covert activity in Europe
The find adds to a growing body of evidence of Russian intelligence operations on European soil that have escalated since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Multiple European countries have reported plots linked to Russian operatives, including attempted assassinations, arson attacks on logistics warehouses, and sabotage of military infrastructure.
Germany has expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats and intelligence officers in recent years in response to identified plots. However, the Brandenburg discovery suggests Moscow’s covert networks retain at least some operational footprint inside Europe’s largest economy, even after years of counterintelligence efforts.
The revelation comes as NATO allies intensify debates over how to counter Russian hybrid threats. Western intelligence agencies have documented a surge in sabotage and subversion plots across the continent, from alleged arson attacks in the UK and Czech Republic to drone incursions near critical infrastructure. European leaders have called for stronger counterintelligence coordination and increased investment in detecting covert operations.
Sources: Euronews; The Guardian; Süddeutsche Zeitung; NDR/WDR
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