Weapons cache found near Berlin, allegedly planted by Ukrainian acting on orders from Russian intelligence

A 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen, Vadim S., hid two pistols on the outskirts of Berlin and sent the coordinates of the cache to contacts via a messaging app.

This was reported by the German magazine Der Spiegel, citing the progress of the investigation.

According to the publication, Vadim S. traveled to Germany by bus from Poland. After hiding the weapons, he sent photographs and coordinates of the cache to his contacts via a messaging app. German investigators were able to locate the cache by tracking his smartphone. The weapons were disabled and the cache was placed under surveillance — however, no one came to retrieve it over the course of several weeks.

Der Spiegel links this to the detention of Vadim S. in Romania in October 2025. At that time, he and another suspect were involved in a case concerning the preparation of acts of sabotage: according to investigators, they were supposed to send parcels containing explosives to Ukraine via Nova Poshta. Romanian intelligence stated that the suspects were part of a sabotage network controlled by Russian special services.

Nevertheless, it appears that proving Vadim S.’s involvement in this network was not possible — the man was released, after which he was able to enter Germany without hindrance.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the weapons were “unquestionably intended for an attack” and pointed to possible “involvement of a foreign state.” The Der Spiegel article suggests that the Ukrainian was acting in the interests of Russian intelligence.

Previously, a resident of Kharkiv was detained in Germany on suspicion of spying on the head of a drone manufacturing company. Before that, a Ukrainian citizen was arrested in Germany on suspicion of surveilling a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman on behalf of Russian intelligence.