September 26, 2026
German investigators suspect that Russia’s military intelligence agency (GRU) was behind an arson attack near the Munich offices of defense companies Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Sept. 25, citing undisclosed security officials.
The arson attack took place in Munich on Sept. 3, when several incendiary devices were thrown from a passing car onto a construction site near the headquarters of Rohde & Schwarz and Helsing.
No one was injured in the incident. The damage was minor, and the fire was quickly extinguished.
Rohde & Schwarz operates in secure communications and defense technology. Helsing develops AI and unmanned systems and produces drones used by Ukraine on the battlefield.
Police later detained two Bulgarian citizens — a 28-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man — who may have been low-level operatives recruited by Russian intelligence services to carry out acts of sabotage in exchange for payment, according to the investigation.
German law enforcement authorities linked the arson attack to the GRU, making it the second similar incident in a month involving suspected Russian intelligence activity. The GRU is also suspected of preparing an attack on Leipzig Airport in early August.
The incident comes amid a rise in suspected acts of sabotage across Europe that Western officials have linked to Russia.
Denmark said in early September that Moscow was attempting to recruit Danish citizens to assist with sabotage operations targeting Danish defense companies.
Meanwhile, in late August, Slovak police detained three foreign nationals over an alleged plot to set fire to a Ukrainian-owned Skyeton factory that produces advanced surveillance drones.
No surprise there (like always). So, the big question (like always) is: what in the hell will Germany do about it?
Being no meaningful consequences to rashists’ sabotage and terrorism, it will just further embolden them to more.