US, Germany foil Russian plan to assassinate exec of arms firm helping Ukraine: report

The US and Germany claim to have worked together to shoot down a Russian plot to assassinate the CEO of a German arms manufacturer that is the main supplier of 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine, according to reports. Russia planned to kill Armin Papperger, head of Rheinmetall, as well as other executives of European defense companies aiding Ukraine’s war effort, sources close to the situation told CNN. The Papperger plot, which was discovered earlier this year, was believed to have been at an advanced stage. “We’re seeing sabotage, we’re seeing assassination plots, we’re seeing arson. We’re seeing things that have a cost in human lives,” a senior NATO official told reporters, as leaders gathered in Washington, DC, for the 75th NATO summit. “I believe very much that we’re seeing a campaign of covert sabotage activities from Russia that have strategic consequences.” Read more at