Assassination attempts on civilians have so far been a taboo even for Russian agents in their hybrid war against Germany. This is changing, warn secret services. Russian military intelligence now also focuses on company bosses. The BDI industry association is calling for more protection.
Several European secret services have warned companies about possible assassination attempts on high-ranking managers by Russian agents. The Financial Times reported, citing insiders from five services, that they believe Russia is expanding its hybrid warfare in Europe and is planning not only acts of sabotage but also assassination attempts on civilians. This has long been a taboo for Russia's secret services.
According to the FT, the focus of the Russian threat is on the heads and high-ranking representatives of defense companies. But managers of smaller companies could also be targeted, especially startups that manufactured drones or components thereof. The secret services advised companies to increase protection measures for their facilities and employees, including using private bodyguards.
The threat is particularly great in Germany, which is now Ukraine's largest supporter in its defense against Russia. Last Monday, the heads of the German services warned of a threat from Russia at a public hearing of the Parliamentary Control Committee for the Secret Services. "In addition to the known espionage activities, we see a willingness to engage in sabotage and killing operations," said the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfA) Sinan Selen, according to a "Handelsblatt" report. Among other things, he referred to the failed drone attack at Leipzig Airport.
The goal is psychological
According to the unanimous assessment of intelligence officials, the aim of the Russian operations is to weaken the willingness to support Ukraine. From the Russian perspective, the main goal is psychological, the "FT" quotes an intelligence representative. The desired effect can only be achieved by making people feel that they could be a target. "They want people to think twice before doing business with Ukraine."
In 2024, a suspected Russian attack plan on the head of the arms company Rheinmetall Armin Papperger was uncovered. According to reports, the manager of Germany's largest arms manufacturer is protected around the clock by police and private bodyguards. The level of protection should be similar to that of the Federal Chancellor. Papperger repeatedly stated publicly that he would not allow himself to be intimidated. “Pinching doesn’t apply,” he said in an interview this summer. However, not all potentially vulnerable managers have such protection. According to the "FT", some arms managers rely on bodyguards, but others only do this when traveling abroad, for example.
According to the information, the military intelligence service GRU is primarily responsible for Russian hybrid warfare in Germany and other European countries. According to BfA boss Selen, this has not only expanded the range of possible attack targets, but also its methods of operation and its network in Germany. Instead of working with individual so-called disposable agents, the GRU distributes various activities, from reconnaissance to carrying out attacks, to different, unconnected actors. The GRU is also increasingly using organized crime in Germany for its own purposes.
The Federation of German Industries (BDI) also considers the threat to company representatives to be high and, in view of the latest warnings, is calling for more government protection. BDI deputy general manager Holger Lösch complained to the “Handelsblatt” about deficits in defending against hybrid attacks. The authorities are increasingly informing companies about threats, and cooperation has improved. However, there is a large “protection gap” between information and trade. There is also a lack of “common procedures to quickly derive concrete measures from warnings”.
