Three Ukrainians Arrested in Europe Over Alleged Sabotage Plot Tied to Russia**

In a coordinated operation, authorities in Germany and Switzerland have arrested three Ukrainian nationals who are suspected of being part of a sabotage scheme aimed at commercial freight infrastructure, potentially linked to Russian state actors.**

Three Ukrainian nationals have been apprehended in Germany and Switzerland amid suspicions of plotting sabotage against European infrastructure reportedly at the behest of Russia. The arrests, confirmed by Germany's federal prosecutor's office, occurred within the past week. The men are suspected of orchestrating a scheme to send incendiary and explosive materials concealed in parcels to various addresses in Ukraine.

The prosecutor’s statement noted that these plans were designed to target logistical operations crucial for commercial freight. However, specifics on intended targets were not disclosed. One suspect, identified as Vladyslav T., allegedly mailed two test packages from Cologne which contained GPS devices aimed at tracking their delivery routes to Ukraine. Another suspect, Yevhen B., arrested in Switzerland, is accused of orchestrating this effort.

Authorities are treating the trio as foreign operatives, believed to be acting under direct orders from Russian military intelligence. This incident follows previous sabotage-related arrests, including three dual Russian-German citizens last year, suspected of planning attacks on key industrial and military locations.

Concerns regarding Russian hybrid warfare tactics have been intensifying, particularly after previous incidents involving explosions at logistics hubs in Germany, including a DHL facility in Leipzig. These events have heightened suspicions of orchestrated attacks from Russian agents, particularly as Poland has recently alleged state-sponsored flames had destroyed a shopping center, crippling numerous businesses.

Amid rising tensions, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed these threats in his inaugural remarks, condemning espionage and disinformation efforts tied to the Russian government, underscoring a growing urgency to tackle such hybrid attacks on German soil. The surveillance of commercial freight operations and potential foreign drone intrusions has shone a light on an ongoing challenge for national security in Germany.

Christopher F. Schuetze continues to cover pivotal developments surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a reporter for The Times based in Berlin.