DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

German Defense CEO Warned of Russian Assassination Plot

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A German defense startup CEO, Stephan Tumann, is living under constant threat and security protection after being warned of an assassination plot by Russian intelligence services.
  • Tumann, 39, leads Donaueschingen, a company supplying drones to Ukraine, and has taken extreme measures, including writing a will and obtaining a donor card.
  • German authorities arrested two individuals in March suspected of surveilling Tumann as part of the plot, which reportedly involved the potential use of the nerve agent Novichok.

Stephan Tumann, the 39-year-old CEO of German defense startup Donaueschingen, revealed he has been living in a state of near-seclusion for months following a warning from German security authorities in December about a Russian assassination plot. His life has been drastically altered, marked by constant relocation and round-the-clock security, effectively eliminating his private life.

Tumann, whose company supplies attack drones primarily to Ukraine, described the situation as "truly shocking." He has prepared a will and obtained a long-term organ donor card, acknowledging these are not typical concerns for someone his age. He stated he is engaged in a life-or-death struggle with Russian military intelligence.

I keep moving my residence and receive security protection all day. My private life is completely gone.

— Stephan TumannDescribing the impact of the assassination threat on his daily life.

In March, German prosecutors announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of surveilling Tumann to facilitate the assassination. These individuals are described as "expendable agents," recruited for limited tasks like surveillance or information gathering in exchange for modest compensation.

I wrote a will and even got an organ donor card. These are things people my age don't normally think about. I am in a life-or-death duel with Russian military intelligence.

— Stephan TumannExpressing the gravity of the threat and his personal preparations.

Reports suggest the assassination plan may have included the use of a nerve agent. Bastian Ernst, a federal lawmaker from the Christian Democratic Union, told German broadcaster RTL that the plot against Tumann was significantly advanced and that intelligence indicated a plan to use Novichok, a potent nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union and Russia. Ernst views this as evidence of Russian involvement.

This is not the first instance of alleged Russian targeting of German defense industry figures linked to Ukraine support. In July 2024, CNN reported, citing U.S. officials, that Russia had planned to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of Germany's largest defense contractor Rheinmetall, though the plot reportedly failed. Rheinmetall is a key supplier of ammunition and weapons to Ukraine.

According to the information we have obtained, there was a clear plan to use Novichok.

— Bastian ErnstSuggesting the use of the nerve agent Novichok in the assassination plot.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog