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Trio in court on Russia spying charge
The Star
|December 10, 2025
THREE men went on trial in Germany yesterday, accused of tailing a former Ukrainian soldier on behalf of Russian intelligence services for a possible assassination plot.
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The alleged ringleader, an Armenian partially identified as Vardges I, recruited another Ukrainian, Robert A, anda Russian, Arman S, prosecutors charge.
The trio allegedly tried to lure the former Ukrainian soldier to a Frankfurt cafe last year, but the alleged target became suspicious and contacted police.
“The spying operation presumably served to prepare further intelligence missions in Germany, possibly including the killing of the target,” prosecutors said.
German media have reported that the former Ukrainian soldier knew he was on a Russian “death list” after Moscow had accused him of war crimes, including the alleged execution of Russian soldiers.
This story is from the December 10, 2025 edition of The Star.
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