Overview
- Federal prosecutors say Ukrainian national Yevhen B. recruited two accomplices to probe courier routes using parcels sent from Cologne toward Ukraine.
- Investigators allege the cell planned to dispatch incendiary packages designed to ignite in Germany or en route to non‑Russian‑occupied parts of Ukraine to damage property and erode public security.
- Authorities report no attacks occurred because the operation was uncovered after test shipments with activated GPS trackers drew the attention of police and domestic intelligence in North Rhine‑Westphalia.
- Yevhen B. was arrested in Switzerland in May 2025 and extradited to Germany in December, while alleged accomplices Daniil B. and Vladyslav T. were detained in Germany in early May 2025; all remain in custody.
- Prosecutors say the tasking came via intermediaries linked to a Russian intelligence service in Mariupol, and the charges include agent activity for sabotage and conspiracy to commit serious arson.