German citizen accused of spy sabotage in Kaliningrad pipeline
A German citizen of Ukrainian descent has admitted to participating in sabotage involving damage to a gas pipeline in Kaliningrad. Reports that he was planning further actions have become a main topic in regional media, according to Russian sources.
Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is part of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war being waged by the Russian Federation.
- As evidence of his alleged connections, a photo purportedly found on his phone, supposedly showing him with Olaf Scholz, is being displayed. The risk of being accused of "diversionary intentions" or "espionage" by the FSB or KGB against any European travelling to Russia or Belarus remains high - warns Dr. Michał Marek, a Polish expert on countering disinformation.
This comment pertains to recent news from Kaliningrad, which has just been engulfed in "spy mania." The situation escalated when the RIA Novosti agency and state television Rossiya24 reported that Russian services detained Nikolai G., a 57-year-old resident of Hamburg with German citizenship. A few days ago, he was allegedly transporting liquid explosives from Poland to the Kaliningrad region.
According to the Federal Security Service, the substance was in a bottle, and the device was constructed so that it was enough to place the bottle in the right spot, pull out the pin, and the explosion would occur with a delay safe for the perpetrator.
The day following his arrest, Nikolai G. reportedly confessed, according to Russian services, that in March this year, he participated in sabotage involving an explosion at a gas transmission station in Kaliningrad. This incident led to a lack of gas supply in part of the city, resulting in resident complaints and drawing the attention of authorities.
Storm in Kaliningrad. German citizen allegedly blew up a gas pipeline
The Russians have not disclosed on whose behalf Nikolai G. was allegedly working. However, they claim this was his second trip from Germany through Poland to the Kaliningrad region. He reportedly admitted that his goal was to organize diversionary activities at energy facilities.
Furthermore, the FSB claims that G. had a cache in the city cemetery with components for making a bomb. Russian television, presenting materials from Russian services, reported that the "spy-bomber" had a photo on his phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This was particularly highlighted in reports on Telegram. Subsequently, the media began a "hunt" for other suspicious Germans.
In a popular Kaliningrad news service, Klops, former East German Army Lieutenant Colonel Uwe Niemeyer appeared, who has lived in Kaliningrad since 1995 and received Russian citizenship in 2020.
- To those Russian Germans who left our country in difficult times and are now returning to the region, we should approach with particular caution. They could be ideal members of a fifth column. Law-abiding, disciplined, and orderly-loving, but in reality engaging in illegal and disruptive activities - the retired military officer argued.
- Their stereotypical justifications for returning to the homeland of our fathers are not convincing motivations for me. They could be traitors. They speak Russian and adapt very quickly to our way of life, making them much more effective in their work - he explained.
The term "Russian Germans" refers to people who, citing their German origin, emigrated from the region and received German citizenship. As previously reported, according to data from the Polish border guard, this is the largest group of travellers crossing the border with the Kaliningrad region.
Media in Kaliningrad are thoroughly covering the fate of the "saboteur." During a court hearing regarding his arrest, he was shown locked in a cage.
"The man is suspected of committing a serious crime against public safety. He faces up to seven years in prison. During the investigation, it was determined that if he were free, he could hide or otherwise interfere in the investigation," the court in Kaliningrad communicated.
This is another case of a German being apprehended in recent months. German authorities are aware of the actions being taken against their citizen and are distancing themselves from the Russian accusations. The topic of "hunts" for Western citizens is also present in the German media.
