German authorities thwarted a Russian intelligence operation to assassinate executives of defense companies supplying weapons to the Ukrainian military. The main target was Stefan Thumann, executive at German startup Donaustahl. Preparations began in December 2025 when a recruited operative photographed the area around Thumann's private residence in Straßkirchen, Bavaria. Russia targeted Donaustahl due to its supply of reconnaissance drones and MAUS FPV drones to Ukraine. The Russian intelligence effort involved online recruitment of operatives, initially monitored by Sergei N., then continued by Romanian citizen Alla S. Law enforcement detained two suspects in Spain and North Rhine-Westphalia in March 2026. Thumann has since canceled public appearances and remains under heightened security. Investigators suspect another assassination attempt plotted in Bavaria after explosives were found on June 11 at the Serbian-Hungarian border in a truck heading to Germany. Serbian police arrested two men, Danilo B. and Slobodan D., who had contacts with Russian intelligence. In July 2024, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs approved Donaustahl's production and export of MAUS drones, which were to be delivered to Ukraine's Kraken unit.

German authorities thwarted a Russian intelligence operation to assassinate executives of defense companies supplying weapons to the Ukrainian military. The main target was Stefan Thumann, executive at German startup Donaustahl. Preparations began in December 2025 when a recruited operative photographed the area around Thumann's private residence in Straßkirchen, Bavaria. Russia targeted Donaustahl due to its supply of reconnaissance drones and MAUS FPV drones to Ukraine. The Russian intelligence effort involved online recruitment of operatives, initially monitored by Sergei N., then continued by Romanian citizen Alla S. Law enforcement detained two suspects in Spain and North Rhine-Westphalia in March 2026. Thumann has since canceled public appearances and remains under heightened security. Investigators suspect another assassination attempt plotted in Bavaria after explosives were found on June 11 at the Serbian-Hungarian border in a truck heading to Germany. Serbian police arrested two men, Danilo B. and Slobodan D., who had contacts with Russian intelligence. In July 2024, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs approved Donaustahl's production and export of MAUS drones, which were to be delivered to Ukraine's Kraken unit.