Brandsätze per Post?: Urteil gegen mutmaßliche Agenten Russlands erwartet

The Higher Regional Court in Stuttgart is set to announce its verdict today at 10:00 AM on three young men accused of acting as agents on behalf of Russia to prepare attacks on cargo transport in Germany. The Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that the three men, aged 22, 25, and 30, were involved in arson and planning bombings as part of a Russian intelligence service's plan.

They were arrested in Cologne, Konstanz, and the Swiss canton of Thurgau in May of the previous year. According to the investigation, they were part of a sabotage plan targeting cargo transportation routes. The defendants allegedly researched transportation procedures and sent two packages containing GPS trackers to Ukraine via a Ukrainian postal service in March 2025.

The prosecution claims the Russian intelligence service commissioned the attack to map the routes and transportation procedures of the package delivery service. The trio allegedly agreed to send packages containing explosive materials during transportation, but they had already prepared the attacks during the preparation stage, as stated in the indictment.

Their lawyers requested acquittal, while the prosecution sought prison sentences ranging from 2 years and 9 months to 4 years and 3 months. The case recalls an incident in 2024, where a cargo package in a DHL logistics center in Leipzig caught fire, suspected to be planted on behalf of Russia. In early August, a drone with explosives and a trigger was found near Leipzig Airport, leading to investigations for attempted explosion and interference in air traffic.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) described the attack as a "hybrid" threat from foreign powers.