German defense executive Stefan Thumann has spent months living at undisclosed locations under round-the-clock security protection after German authorities uncovered a Russian military intelligence plot to assassinate him in Germany.
The 39-year-old chief executive of drone manufacturer Donaustahl disclosed details of the threat during an interview with broadcaster RTL and Stern magazine, stating that German law enforcement officials first warned him of the Kremlin plot in late 2025.
Thumann explained that he changes his location constantly and maintains 24-hour close protection security. He stated that his private life has effectively ceased to exist while he fights for his life against Russian military intelligence services.
Assassination plot and suspect arrests
German prosecutors announced in March that two individuals had been arrested in connection with the assassination investigation. Law enforcement authorities described the suspects as disposable agents, a term referring to poorly trained recruits hired for small sums of money, who allegedly spied on Thumann to prepare for his murder.
According to information reported by RTL and Stern, security officials believe the threat against Thumann remains active. RTL cited a German parliamentarian who stated that preparations for the assassination had reached an advanced stage and involved plans to deploy a lethal nerve agent.
Nerve agents are highly toxic synthetic chemicals that attack the human nervous system, causing severe physiological breakdown within minutes. Western intelligence services have previously attributed several covert assassination attempts in Europe to Russian military intelligence, including chemical weapon attacks against state opponents abroad.
Personal toll and drone operations
Thumann recounted that following the initial shock of learning about the assassination attempt, he wrote his last will and testament and completed an organ donor card, noting that these were measures people of his age rarely expect to consider. He added that he sleeps beside his computer and begins working immediately upon waking to prevent his mind from dwelling on the situation, emphasizing that the conflict in Ukraine has become his personal war.
Donaustahl specializes in the production of attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles, while also developing navigation and flight software for military drones supplied to Ukrainian forces.
The company is part of a growing sector of German defense technology startups that have risen to prominence by supplying specialized military equipment to Ukraine. Drones have become a central element of modern combat operations in the war, serving as key assets for real-time reconnaissance, artillery targeting, and direct precision strikes along the frontlines.
