The warning lands as Berlin hardens its stance on suspected Russian sabotage. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to blame Moscow for an attempted drone attack in Leipzig and unveil “extensive” sanctions, officials told POLITICO and WELT AM SONNTAG.
Thumann’s company, Donaustahl, supplies combat drones to Ukraine, according to the executive. He says he has been forced to live under round-the-clock protection after authorities uncovered an alleged Russian intelligence plan to poison him in 2025.
Authorities warned him shortly before Christmas that he could be in danger. “Yes, it comes from Russia. And yes, it is very serious — your life is at risk,” he said they told him. Within days, a suspected low-level operative had been detained.
Thumann said he had turned official addresses into surveillance-heavy “honeypots” — locations deliberately designed to lure hostile actors into a trap. “The low-level operatives were only there to find out where I was,” he added. “Then an assassination using poison was supposed to be carried out.”
The threat has upended his life. Thumann said he now lives at undisclosed locations with bodyguards, has not seen his family for months, and has prepared a will and advance health care directive in case he is killed.
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