Authorities in Germany discovered a secret stash of weapons, including two pistols, on the outskirts of Berlin in late summer 2025, following a tip-off. The German security services confiscated the weapons, deactivated them, and fitted them with GPS trackers before returning them to the concealment site. Continuous remote surveillance was established on the stash to identify potential clients or operatives.
However, the operatives behind the stash failed to appear. The hideout is now deemed ‘dead,’ likely because Russian agents noticed police activity in the surrounding forest area.
Despite this setback, law enforcement managed to trace a key suspect in Romania, who could be linked to the burial of this arsenal in the ground.
According to reports, authorities believe the weapons were intended for so-called kinetic operations, including attempts on the lives of defense industry leaders, exiled Russian opponents, and individuals supportive of Ukraine.
Since November 2025, Germany’s attorney general has been investigating the case, suspecting it involves preparations for serious crimes that pose a threat to the state. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany has not officially commented on the matter, and the Russian embassy initially did not respond to journalists’ inquiries.
Context
- In recent years, the political and military leadership of European countries has repeatedly warned of the threat of a Russian attack. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Russia might strike NATO by 2029, although Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer suggested it could happen even sooner.
- In early August 2026, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that the country is targeted daily by hybrid warfare conducted by foreign states, including Russia. He highlighted espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, and covert operations aimed at destabilizing Germany and causing direct harm. Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter claimed that Russia employs ‘the full arsenal of hybrid warfare and state terrorism.’
