Two Ukrainians charged in Germany for planning attacks for Russia

German prosecutors have charged two Ukrainian nationals with planning arson and explosive attacks on behalf of Russian intelligence.

The two men are accused of having sent parcels containing GPS tracking devices from Cologne to Ukraine to test potential routes ahead of the planned sabotage, according to the charges brought at the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court on Tuesday.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said the plan was to mail packages containing explosive devices that "ignite in Germany or elsewhere on their way to parts of Ukraine not occupied by Russia" to cause "as much damage as possible in order to undermine the population's sense of security."

The two men were arrested in Germany in May, alongside a third Ukrainian thought to be an accomplice who was taken into custody in Switzerland.

He was recently extradited to Germany and is set to be charged in the case soon, federal prosecutors said.