Following an unusual discovery, German authorities indicated it might be connected to the Russian Federation.
Russian Weapons / Illustrative Photo / © vesti.ru
In Germany, intelligence agencies uncovered a clandestine cache containing two loaded handguns. The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) suspects it could have belonged to Russian intelligence and was intended for agents tasked with carrying out sabotage operations.
This information was reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing sources within German security agencies.
The hiding spot was located in late summer last year within a wooded area near the border of Berlin and the federal state of Brandenburg. According to journalists, intelligence services had received intel regarding its precise location.
Following the discovery, experts examined the weaponry. GPS trackers were found on both pistols, which, according to sources, had been deliberately disabled. Law enforcement decided not to disturb the cache and established remote surveillance over it, hoping to apprehend individuals who would come to retrieve the firearms.
However, no one appeared. The cache is currently considered “dormant” – it’s probable that those who set it up became aware of the intelligence operation.
The Purpose of the Weaponry
German law enforcement believes the weapons were intended for Russian operatives assigned to so-called “kinetic operations,” including physical assaults and assassinations.
The head of the BfV, Thomas Haldenwang, has repeatedly warned about the increased activity of Russian intelligence services in Germany. He stated that Moscow might be preparing targeted attacks against individuals associated with arms manufacturing, the Russian opposition, and supporters of Ukraine.
According to journalists, as part of the investigation into this matter, a suspect was apprehended in Romania. It is presumed that this individual may have established the secret depot. Since November of last year, the case has been under investigation by the German Attorney General’s office on suspicion of preparing a grave crime against the state.
The BfV declined to comment on specific details of the investigation.
Russia Utilized Caches Even During the Soviet Era
Secret arms caches outside the USSR were part of the Soviet intelligence services’ arsenal during the Cold War. Such depots were used for storing weapons, explosives, and communication devices, as well as for supporting agent operations.
According to former KGB officer Vasili Mitrokhin, Moscow had prepared similar caches in West Germany in anticipation of a large-scale conflict with NATO.
German intelligence agencies have also previously found hidden munitions and explosives. Notably, two years ago, near Bellheim in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, construction workers unearthed explosives and hand grenades close to a NATO pipeline.
The Russian embassy has not yet commented on the information regarding the discovered weapons cache in Germany.
It is worth recalling that Russia’s military-industrial complex relies on imported raw materials for the production of missiles, tanks, aircraft, and ammunition. According to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Russia imported strategic minerals worth over $1.1 billion in a year. Analysts identified hundreds of supplier companies, yet fewer than 5% have faced sanctions. Ukraine urges the EU to block these supply channels, which could significantly impact Russia’s defense manufacturing.
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