German intelligence services believe that there was an attempt [ordered by Russia] on the life of Stefan Tumann, the head of Donaustahl

According to the ZEIT investigation, German intelligence services believe that there was an attempt [ordered by Russia] on the life of Stefan Tumann, the head of Donaustahl, a German defense startup that supplies reconnaissance drones and kamikaze drones to Ukraine.

The planned attempt on the head of a German company is one of the cases that is discussed time and again in the Federal Chancellery. They no longer have any illusions: Russia views Germany as an enemy. The Russians use everything from agitation and propaganda to sabotage and assassinations.

Stefan Tumann’s case is not the only one. According to ZEIT, another defense company is in the sights of Russian intelligence services. In the case, which is classified, investigators do not rule out that the life of the head of another defense enterprise is under threat.

 Back in 2024, data emerged that Russian agents were spying on the head of 🇩🇪 Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger.

Stefan Thumann is a hunter and sports shooter who cultivates the image of a man without compromise. He is described as a man who is proud of what he produces: drones that can kill if necessary. 

In the world of the defense industry, Thumann is a loud voice. Since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, he has spoken out unequivocally. "Russia does not want peace. It wants the destruction of the West," he wrote on LinkedIn.

💬 I am only a small spark, but I will throw everything I have against this intention, - writes Thumann.

The signal that Thumann is in danger has been reaching German intelligence services since December 2025 from foreign intelligence.  Soon, Bavarian police arrest a bricklayer from Kharkiv, Serhiy N. They seize his phones, copy his data, and... release him [Serhiy quickly flees to Spain]

It is only later that data processing shows that Serhiy has maintained contact with the Russian special services. In addition, investigators learn about possible attempts to spy on Tumann's father in order to find out his son's whereabouts.

ℹ️ This is a method that Russian special services often resort to: recruiting so-called "disposable" agents, who are lured online with money for sabotage and espionage. 

In Germany, Serhiy's baton was taken over by Alla S., a Romanian who lived in North Rhine-Westphalia and continued to spy on Stefan Tumann.  In March 2026, security forces detained Sergey N. in Spain, and Alla S. in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Stefan Tumann is currently under increased security. A few weeks ago, he posted a picture of a weather forecast from somewhere in the Arctic. Perhaps a false trail. In another post, he wrote that for certain reasons he could not attend public events, including exhibitions, yet.

A few weeks ago, Serbian border guards stopped a truck on the border with Hungary. They found carefully arranged hiding places in the car, in which explosives were smuggled. According to ZEIT, security forces found contacts with the Russian special services in the drivers' phones. The truck's destination was Bavaria.

ℹ️ In recent years, Bavaria has become a center of defense technology. In addition to Donaustahl, influential startups have settled there - in particular, Quantum Systems and Helsing.  Both also supply drones to Ukraine.