After reporting by BILD where journalists were able to ship (disabled) electronics components from Germany to Russia through RussPost, it is now being reported that prosecutors are seeking to charge a senior manager at RussPost.
The same reporting states that an earlier investigation into another senior manager, named as Dmitri V, had been commenced but then discontinued for a lack of evidence in 2024.
It is being reported that a mutual legal assistance request has been sent by German authorities to Ukraine investigating press reports of German companies alleged to have supplied materials used in the building of the Shahed drones used by Russian in the conflict with Ukraine.
The German company reported to be the target of the information gathering is Goettle Advanced Products GmbH & Co. KG and possible connections to the Russian manufacturer Composite Products LLC.
Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor has issued a press release relating to the arrest of two individuals for supplying funds and economic resources to the sanctioned Ukrainian separatist groups the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
It is alleged the two individuals, Suren A. (Russian) and Falko H. (German) transferred €14,000 to these groups and also organised the transport of supplies, drones and medical products to them.
The press release mentioned raids of May 2025 in Berlin and Brandenburg, including of a third suspect.
Last week the German authorities ordered the vessel Tavian not to enter German territorial waters after inspection of the ship’s papers resulted in a finding that the vessel was sailing under a false flag and with a fake IMO number, and a suspicion that the tanker was being used to ship Russian oil.
The vessel complied with the order and turned around before returning to the North Sea and turning off its transponder.
Other reports include a comment from the Bundespolizei that they could not comment on an “ongoing operational procedure”.
Prosecutors in Germany have settled their investigation and prosecution of Alisher Usmanov for suspected breaches of EU sanctions.
The settlement involves a payment of €10 million but no admission of liability.
The investigation related to allegations of payments made by or on behalf Usmanov, a designated person, in relation the provision of security for two properties in Germany.
It is being reported in an article published in trans.info that the German authorities currently have approximately 6000 criminal proceedings for sanctions offences that are ongoing.
This number is said to be specific to the EU’s Russian and Belarusian sanctions regimes.
No further information is provided on the status of the cases.
It is being reported that the Munich Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a number of businesses suspected of exporting 50 luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The cars are said to be valued at €10 million, including one car fitted with armour valued at €650,000.
The report alleges that the exports were done via third countries including Kazakhstan.
German Customs has issued a press release relating to an ongoing investigation against five defendants. On 29 November three properties were raids in Oelde, and two individuals were arrested.
The investigation by the Essen Customs office, relates to the export since January 2023 of technical equipment and accessories, such as pumps, valves, filters to a company in Russia.
It is suspected that 53 shipments may have taken place via third countries.
The investigation has also frozen assets valued at €689,000.
It is being reported that seven residential and commercial premises in the Steinfurt area were raided on 20 November by Customs officers from Essen, Münster and Osnabrück.
The raids relate to allegations that three individuals (aged 57, 32 and 27) were involved in the export of 346 luxury cars to Russia via third countries in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The exports are said to have taken place between 2022 and 2024 and have totalled approximately €20m in value.
The report adds that assets (including real estate, cars and bank accounts) valued at €20m have been seized as part of the investigation.
German Customs has issued a press release reporting that the Customs Investigation Office and Public Prosecutor’s Office in Stuttgart have overseen raids on private and company premises relating to alleged machinery exports to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
Raids and searches were conducted on 10, 14 and 18 November and a 55-year old man has been arrested.
It is alleged that 5 machine tools were exported to Russia via third countries between October 2023 and December 2024. The value of the machinery is stated to have been €1.7m.
As well as raiding the exporting company, raids were also conducted on the premises of a freight forwarding company in Duisburg.
