Ukrainian man accused of hiding weapons for Russian agents near Berlin
A Ukrainian citizen is suspected of having placed weapons in a cache in Berlin at the instruction of Russian intelligence services — Der Spiegel suspects 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen Vadim S. of hiding weapons in a cache on the outskirts of Berlin.
Consensus
- A 24-year-old Ukrainian man named Vadim Щербакov was involved in hiding weapons in a forest near Berlin.
- The weapons were discovered in a cache on the outskirts of Berlin.
- Two pistols with ammunition were found in the cache, one of which was a copy of a Makarov pistol.
- The cache was monitored by German authorities after the weapons were rendered inoperable.
- No one came to retrieve the weapons during the surveillance period.
- Vadim Щербакov was arrested in Bucharest, Romania, on October 16, 2025.
- He was arrested alongside another Ukrainian man, 21-year-old Bogdan Filipchuk.
- The suspects were allegedly involved in a sabotage attempt against the Ukrainian delivery company 'Nova Post' in Romania.
- The operation was reportedly coordinated by Russian intelligence services.
- Polish intelligence had been monitoring the suspect's movements prior to the Berlin operation.
- The suspect traveled from Poland to Berlin by bus on October 1, 2025.
- The suspect sent photos and coordinates of the cache to his contacts after retrieving the weapons.
Points of divergence
- The suspect was identified as Vadim S. from Ukraine, and the source claims he entered the group of Russian agents preparing sabotage operations in European countries. — meduza
- The suspect's full name is Vadim Щербакov; the source cites Ziua de Constanța and Romanian court data as the basis. — tg_echoonline_news
- The suspect entered the EU from Russia in 2023, via Latvia, according to leaked data analyzed by the source. — tg_agentstvonews
- The suspect was arrested in Poland as well as Romania, according to the source. — tg_dwglavnoe
- The suspect's uncle was involved in the operation, according to Libertatea. — meduza
- One of the suspect's relatives may be linked to a Russian intelligence agency. — tg_agentstvonews
- The cache was monitored for a year before being discovered. — meduza
- The cache was monitored for several weeks, not a year. — tg_echoonline_news
- The suspect left two packages with explosives at a 'Nova Post' office in Bucharest. — meduza
- The suspect left two packages containing incendiary devices hidden in headphones and flammable mixtures disguised as car lubricant. — tg_echoonline_news
- The suspect and his associate were born in Kherson Oblast, which is partially occupied by Russia. — meduza
- The suspect entered the EU from Russia via Latvia in 2023. — tg_agentstvonews
Coverage (4 sources)
- Der Spiegel: 24-year-old Ukrainian set up weapon cache in forest under Berlin. He likely belonged to a group of Russian agents preparing a sabotage — Meduza
- Ukrainian suspected of placing weapon in Berlin safe house on orders of Russian intelligence — Der Spiegel — ЭХО / Новости
- A weapon cache under Berlin created by a Ukrainian at the order of Russian intelligence services... — Агентство. Новости
- 24-year-old Ukrainian placed weapons in a cache under Berlin at Russia's request, Der Spiegel reports — DW Главное