German opposition leader Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that his country has become a target of “intensive” espionage activity by Russia. His remarks came after the arrest of a Ukrainian citizen suspected of spying for the Kremlin. Merz called the exposure of the case a “success,” but stressed: “We must not delude ourselves—the activity of Russian intelligence services in Germany remains at a high and consistent level.”
1+According to Germany’s federal prosecutor, the suspect, identified as Vadim Y., collected military intelligence for a Russian intelligence service. He allegedly passed information related to “the production of armored vehicles, ammunition, and explosives.” The suspect, who was in contact with Russian intelligence through an intermediary, is expected to appear before an investigating judge tomorrow.
The latest arrest joins a string of espionage cases uncovered in Germany this year, amid its role as one of Ukraine’s main weapons suppliers. In January, a woman was arrested in Berlin on suspicion of gathering information for an intelligence officer at the Russian embassy, and in other cases a Romanian citizen and a Ukrainian citizen were arrested on charges of spying on a person who supplied locally-made drones to Kyiv.
1+Earlier this month, Germany was shocked by the arrest of former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning on suspicion of espionage, treason, and obtaining classified information for a foreign power. Along with him, another former BND employee was arrested, accused of transferring about 2,000 classified documents to Hanning in exchange for payment.
Merz, speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Montenegro, estimated that “it’s likely we’ll see more such cases in the coming months and years.” The recent cases come after Germany, in September, accused Russia of launching an explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport—an accusation denied by Russian President Vladimir Putin.