Germany Thwarts Russian Plot to Assassinate Executive of Donaustahl, Drone Supplier to Ukraine

German authorities have thwarted a Russian intelligence operation to assassinate executives of defense companies supplying weapons to the Ukrainian military. One of the main targets was Stefan Thumann, an executive at German startup Donaustahl.

Die Zeit reported on the case, citing materials from German investigators and security officials.

Preparations for the assassination attempt began in December 2025, when a recruited operative took photographs of the area around the entrepreneur’s private residence in the Bavarian municipality of Straßkirchen. Russia reportedly targeted the company because it supplies Ukraine with reconnaissance drones and MAUS FPV drones.

To organize the attacks, Russian intelligence services recruited operatives online. Initially, Sergei N. monitored Stefan Thumann, but after he fled abroad, the intelligence-gathering effort was continued by Romanian citizen Alla S.

Law enforcement agencies detained both suspects in March 2026 in Spain and North Rhine-Westphalia. The Donaustahl executive has since canceled public appearances and remains under heightened security.

Investigators have not ruled out that Russia was preparing another assassination attempt against a senior defense industry executive in Bavaria. This possibility was indicated by the discovery of explosives on June 11 at the Serbian-Hungarian border in a truck heading to the German region.

Serbian police arrested two men in connection with the case — Danilo B. and Slobodan D. During checks of their mobile phones, investigators found direct contacts with Russian intelligence representatives.

In July 2024, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs approved Donaustahl’s production and export of MAUS drones. The company said the new drones would be delivered to Ukraine’s Kraken unit.