Speaking at the European Parliament, Appathurai said Russia
had planned assassinations of defense industry leaders across Europe, including
Papperger.
He also noted that Russians recruit individuals online,
using “criminal groups, unsuspecting youth, or migrants” to carry out their
crimes.
According to Appathurai, the sabotage campaign included
“train derailments, arson, attacks on politicians’ property, and threats to
assassinate industry leaders, such as Rheinmetall’s CEO, among other plots.”
On July 11, 2024, CNN reported that earlier in the year,
U.S. intelligence discovered that the Russian government had planned to kill
the CEO of a major German arms manufacturer producing artillery shells and
military equipment for Ukraine. The individual in question was identified as Armin
Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall.
Rheinmetall is a major German defense company that supplies
ammunition and military equipment to Ukraine. In October 2023, the company
established a joint venture with Ukraine’s defense industry.
In March 2024, Papperger announced that Rheinmetall aimed to
build at least four factories in Ukraine to produce ammunition, military
vehicles, gunpowder, and air defense systems.
In May 2024, Papperger confirmed Rheinmetall’s plans to soon
open a facility in Ukraine specializing in air defense systems.