The United States and Germany have successfully intercepted a Russian plan to assassinate Armin Papperger, the leader of Rheinmetall, a major weapons supplier to Ukraine.
The plot, upended by the White House and foreign partners, was a part of a larger Russian agenda targeting European defense firms aiding Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, as the New York Post reports.
Rheinmetall supplies critical 155mm artillery shells to Ukrainian forces. The conspiracy to kill Papperger, among other executives of European defense companies, was uncovered earlier this year, indicating an advanced stage of planning.
American intelligence agencies discovered the assassination plans and promptly informed their German counterparts. German authorities moved swiftly to ensure the safety of Papperger and prevented the attack from materializing.
Rheinmetall is expanding its footprint in Ukraine, with an existing plant already operational and another armored vehicle factory set to launch imminently. The company aims to establish four production plants across Ukraine.
Russia's efforts to sabotage the delivery of weapons to Ukraine have been ongoing for over six months. These acts of sabotage involve hiring local amateurs for arson attacks on warehouses and vandalizing infrastructure related to arms supplies aiding Ukraine.
“We’re seeing sabotage, we’re seeing assassination plots, we’re seeing arson. We’re seeing things that have a cost in human lives,” a senior NATO official remarked during the 75th NATO summit in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, the same official elaborated, stating, “I believe very much that we’re seeing a campaign of covert sabotage activities from Russia that have strategic consequences.”
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, emphasized the severity of Russia’s intensifying subversive activities. “Russia’s intensifying campaign of subversion is something that we are taking extremely seriously and have been intently focused on over the past few months,” she stated.
Watson also noted that the United States is actively collaborating with NATO allies to identify and counter these activities. “The United States has been discussing this issue with our NATO allies, and we are actively working together to expose and disrupt these activities,” she emphasized. She also added, “We have also been clear that Russia’s actions will not deter allies from continuing to support Ukraine.”
This assassination plot against Papperger underscores the ongoing global tension surrounding the support for Ukraine's defense efforts against Russian aggression. The thwarted plan illustrates the lengths to which Russia is willing to go to disrupt the supply of arms to Ukraine.
The ramifications of this thwarted assassination attempt extend beyond the immediate safety of executives like Papperger. It signifies a broader threat to European defense companies engaged in supporting Ukraine’s military capabilities.
With its escalating subversive tactics, Russia continues to challenge the solidarity of NATO and its supporters. However, the swift action taken by US and German authorities highlights their commitment to safeguarding key figures essential to the defense sector.
As Rheinmetall continues to solidify its operations in Ukraine, the vigilance of international intelligence and defense agencies remains critical. The cooperation between the US and Germany in preventing this assassination marks a triumph in the ongoing effort to protect strategic assets amid geopolitical conflicts.
