Overview
- German prosecutors, who announced the arrests Tuesday, said a 45-year-old Romanian was seized in Rheine and a 43-year-old Ukrainian was picked up in Elda, Spain.
- Investigators say the Ukrainian suspect began in December 2025 by gathering online data and filming the businessman’s workplace, then the Romanian suspect took over after his move to Spain and covertly recorded the home address.
- The Federal Public Prosecutor said the reconnaissance was meant to set up further intelligence actions against the businessman, with Der Spiegel reporting investigators also considered a possible physical attack.
- Alla S. is due before a Federal Court of Justice investigating judge on Wednesday to decide pretrial detention, while Germany has issued a European arrest warrant to extradite Sergey N. from Spain.
- The businessman is under protection, and security officials tie the case to a broader Russian practice of recruiting untrained “disposable agents” on social media to scout or sabotage Western defense suppliers.