U.S., Germany foil alleged Russian plot to assassinate CEO of German arms firm sending weapons to Ukraine
NBCJul 18
Report: Alleged Russian Plot to Kill Rheinmetall CEO Foiled
story
Image copyright: David Hecker/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Citing five unidentified American and Western intelligence officials, CNN reported on Thursday that the US and Germany had foiled an alleged Russian plot to assassinate the chief executive officer of Germany's leading arms manufacturer.
CNN claims that the alleged plot against Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall — which has been supplying military equipment and ammunition to Ukraine — was part of a covert effort to assassinate European defense industry chiefs supporting Ukraine.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Papperger is a thorn in Moscow's side because his firm is building a factory in Ukraine to resurrect its arms industry and help the country reduce its reliance on Western assistance. The Russian plot to assassinate him underlines the need to protect Europeans as Moscow is willing to murder private citizens on their soil in a parallel hybrid war it's waging across the West.
Pro-Russia narrative
CNN's report can't be taken seriously as the Western news outlet neither provided any evidence of the "sophisticated" or "mature" assassination plot nor elaborated on whether Russia sought to carry out the murder directly or through a local proxy. This is another fake story spread by the West to stoke anti-Kremlin sentiments and justify its continuous flow of arms to Ukraine.
