+++ Ukraine-Krieg +++: Mutmaßlicher Russland-Spion in Brandenburg gefasst

The German Federal Prosecution Office has arrested a suspected Russian spy in Brandenburg, allegedly gathering military-relevant information for a Russian intelligence agency. The Ukrainian national reportedly collected intelligence and used contacts within the European defense industry. Federal prosecutors accuse him of engaging in clandestine activities for a foreign intelligence service.

If convicted, he could face up to ten years in prison. The highest German law enforcement agency accuses him of being deeply suspected of serving as a secret agent for a foreign power. According to the German Criminal Code, the maximum sentence is ten years in prison. Chancellor Friedrich Merz hailed the arrest as a success, but warned of further surveillance attempts in the coming months and years.

Germany is reportedly a frequent target of espionage activities. Officials from the Federal Criminal Police Office apprehended the suspect in the Oder-Spree district on Thursday. He is scheduled to appear before a prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe on Friday to decide on detention. The investigation was based on intelligence from the Federal Office for Protection of the Constitution.

The suspect is believed to have been in contact with the Russian intelligence agency since at least July 2025. The information allegedly collected includes insights into the production of tanks, ammunition, and explosives, as well as personnel and military facilities related to NATO's eastern flank security. Some of these pieces of information were publicly available.

In some cases, the suspect proactively recruited individuals from the European defense industry, a tactic known as "hit-and-run" agents, who are low-cost assets obtained through social media. Several arrests of suspected Russian spies have been made this year alone, with the first in January. A woman was arrested for allegedly providing information to a Russian agent in the Russian embassy.

In the first half of the year, several more arrests followed, targeting agents working on behalf of Russia with intelligence primarily related to the war in Ukraine. A Romanian woman and a Ukrainian were accused of tapping a person supplying drones and equipment to Ukraine from Germany. Another suspect allegedly spied on a former Ukrainian military fighter living in Germany.

Federal Prosecutor Jens Rommel emphasized that Russian spies often aim not only to gather information but also to prepare further covert actions, such as sabotage or even attacks on targeted individuals. Many of these espionage efforts appear to be aimed at undermining German support for Ukraine. Other foreign intelligence services have also targeted Germany, such as a Chinese spy case involving an academic couple in May.

A recent arrest also involves former BND (German Federal Intelligence Service) President August Hanning, who is accused of using secret Bundesnachrichten intelligence for consulting work. Hanning, along with his co-defendant, is currently in detention.