Russia planned to assassinate Armin Papperger, who is the CEO of the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, which supplies weapons to Ukraine.

However, the US intelligence services and Germany foiled the Russian plot.

CNN reported on this, citing five US and western officials familiar with the episode.

The sources said that US intelligence had discovered earlier this year that the Russian government had planned to assassinate Armin Papperger and had informed Germany, whose security services had been then able to protect Papperger.

According to these sources, the assassination attempt was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate the heads of defense companies across Europe that supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. It is noted that the plan to assassinate Rheinmetall‘s CEO had been the most prepared.

Papperger was an obvious target: His company, Rheinmetall, is the largest and most successful German manufacturer of the vital 155-mm artillery shells, which are badly needed by the Ukrainian army.

Rheinmetall is also set to open an enterprise for the production of ammunition, armored vehicles and air defense equipment in Ukraine in the near future, which, according to one source familiar with the intelligence, is a source of concern for Russia.

When the Americans learned of the effort, they informed Germany, whose security services were then able to protect Papperger and foil the plot.

A high-level German government official confirmed that Berlin had been warned about the plot by the US.

The National Security Council declined to comment on the existence of the Russian plot and the US warning to Germany.

But, NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement, “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 emphasized that Russia’s actions would not deter Allies from continuing to support Ukraine.