Stunning Russian plot to execute man vital to Ukraine war effort against Putin is foiled by US spies

The US government was able to foil a Russian assassination plot against the chief executive of a German weapons manufacturer that has been arming Ukraine.

US intelligence officials discovered the plot to kill Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger earlier this year and informed Germany, five US and western officials told CNN.

The plan by the Kremlin was one of a series of plots to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine amid the war with Russia.

Rheinmetall is one of the world's biggest producers of artillery and tank shells and has been fundamental in the Ukrainian effort against Russia.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of current President Vladimir Putin, had previously said Russia would hit any facility Rheinmetall set up in Ukraine.

Medvedev's comments came after Rheinmetall said in May 2023 it had set up a joint venture with Ukrainian state-owned conglomerate Ukroboronprom to build and repair tanks in Ukraine.

In February, Rheinmetall announced that it also planned to open an ammunition factory in Ukraine.

Two months later, Papperger - who has been with Rheinmetall for 34 years, including more than 11 years as CEO - made headlines when his garden house was set on fire by what tabloid newspaper Bild said were far-left activists.

In a parallel shadow war effort, Russia has been carrying sabotage operations across Europe, largely by proxy, and recruiting locals for arson attacks to petty vandalism as an effort to slow the flow of arms to Ukraine, as reported by CNN. 

Rheinmetall is an obvious target, as it produces the vital 155mm artillery shells that have become the most important war in Ukraine's war of attrition.

Asked about the report at the current NATO summit in Washington, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Russia was waging a hybrid war of aggression, including cyberattacks and sabotage of infrastructure.

'This underlines once again that we as Europeans must protect ourselves as best we can and not be naïve,' she said.

A spokesperson for Germany's Interior Ministry declined to comment on the CNN report, adding the government was generally taking the threats posed by the Russian regime very seriously.

'Our security authorities are very vigilant and act accordingly, in close cooperation with our international partners,' the spokesperson said. 

'The Federal Government will not be intimidated by the Russian threats. We will continue to do everything in our power to prevent possible threats in Germany.'

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National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told CNN: 'The United States has been discussing this issue with our NATO Allies, and we are actively working together to expose and disrupt these activities.

'We have also been clear that Russia’s actions will not deter Allies from continuing to support Ukraine.'