Three men, identified as a Russian, Arman S.; an Armenian, Vardges I.; and a Ukrainian, Robert A., were apprehended in Frankfurt by German authorities on Wednesday on suspicion of espionage. The Federal Prosecutor's Office claims that the trio traveled to Germany with the intention of gathering information for a foreign intelligence service.

The suspects are accused of conducting surveillance on an individual from Ukraine and staking out a café in Frankfurt where their target was expected to be. However, the Federal Prosecutor's Office has not disclosed the identity of the intelligence service that the men were allegedly working for.

These arrests come at a time when European governments have become increasingly concerned about a surge in espionage activities within the bloc following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Numerous Russian operatives, often operating under diplomatic cover, have been expelled from countries like France and Bulgaria.

To combat this rise in espionage, foreign ministers from eight EU countries have written to the bloc's top diplomat, urging for restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats and their families. Similarly, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has pledged to implement tighter restrictions on Russian intelligence personnel across the alliance.

In addition to the recent arrests in Frankfurt, Estonia made headlines by sentencing a Russian university professor to six years in prison for spying for the Kremlin. These developments further underscore the ongoing concerns and efforts to counter Russian espionage in Europe.

The investigation into the activities of the three arrested suspects in Frankfurt continues, as German authorities work to unveil the extent of their alleged involvement in espionage operations.