On Wednesday, the US news channel CNN reported that earlier this year Russia’s government had been planning to assassinate the head of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger.Rheinmetall is Germany’s largest arms manufacturer and one of the biggest in Europe. The company has been supplying Kyiv with artillery shells and military vehicles since the war began, as well as operating a repair facility for combat vehicles in Ukraine. It also has plans to open Ukrainian plants for the production of ammunition and armored vehicles.