Stern: Two German soldiers planned to explode Crimean Bridge

Two German soldiers, Louis B. and Akira V., who stole equipment from Bundeswehr stocks in Schleswig-Holstein, intended to blow up the Crimean Bridge, Germany's Stern magazine said with reference to the police investigation.

According to the report, the intended act of sabotage was exposed from a telephone conversation, in which the men discussed the equipment that they would need to detonate the bridge. Immediately after that, they were arrested.

Prosecutors of the city of Kiel launched an investigation into the fact of robbery of the equipment. According to law enforcement agencies, the servicemen, along with eight accomplices, repeatedly broke into federal facilities and stole equipment from there. In particular, the suspects stole helmets, special cameras, compasses and radios. It was also said that the suspects had served in the German army.

Immediately before the arrest, the men attempted to enter the naval base in Eckernförde, but failed. They planned to take the stolen equipment to Ukraine in a few days.

Military investigators found ammunition, weapons and explosives in the house, where the suspects lived. It is assumed that the men intended to use the stolen items partly for personal purposes and partly for resale.

US-based publication The Drive earlier reported that the Ukrainian forces would not be able to strike the Crimean Bridge. There bridge, which is nearly 20 kilometres long, is protected by Russia's powerful air defences, whereas Ukraine does not have long-range missiles that could reach the Crimean bridge from Kyiv-controlled territories.