Germany Jails Three Men for Spying for Russia

The Higher Regional Court of Munich has found three men guilty of spying for Russia. The main defendant in the case, a 41-year-old man, was sentenced to six years in prison. He was found guilty not only of espionage but also of participating in a paramilitary formation in eastern Ukraine and planning acts of sabotage on German territory. His two accomplices received suspended sentences of one year and six months, respectively.

All three convicts hold dual citizenship of Russia and Germany.

The trial established that the main defendant fought with pro-Russian forces in Donbas from 2014 to 2016. Later, between October 2023 and April 2024, he was engaged in collecting intelligence data and preparing sabotage operations, targeting German military infrastructure and railway lines. According to the prosecution, the other two defendants assisted him and participated in the process of transferring the collected information to Russian special services.

During the trial, the defendants denied their guilt, claiming they "spoke about all of it as a joke." However, the prosecution was able to prove that the main defendant had direct links with Russian special services, and his accomplices had "knowingly made the decision to work for Russia."

Notably, the Federal Prosecutor's Office had requested an eight-year prison sentence for the main defendant, but the court decided on a more lenient punishment.