In brief
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has declared Germany under an "intensive" campaign of Russian espionage, citing the capture of a Ukrainian national who passed military intelligence to Moscow. Official statements note that the suspect, named Vadym Y., had met with a Russian spy agent since July and reported on armoured vehicle production and ammunition. Merz praised the investigation as a success but warned that Russian intelligence remains pervasive. This arrest follows a wave of detentions this year, including a Romanian woman, a Ukrainian man spying on drone suppliers, and the recent detention of former BND head August Hanning on charges of espionage and treason. Despite heightened vigilance, Germany continues to support Ukraine with military aid amid the ongoing war.
Germany is under an "intensive" campaign of Russian espionage, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced following the arrest of a Ukrainian national slated for spying for Moscow. The suspect, identified as Vadym Y., allegedly supplied the Russian intelligence service with information about the manufacturing of armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives since July 2025.
Merz called the case a success but cautioned that Russian intelligence remains "at a consistently high level" in Germany, emphasizing the country’s critical role as a supplier of weapons to Ukraine amid the war that began in 2022.
The arrest follows a series of detentions this year, including a Romanian woman and a Ukrainian man connected to a German drone supplier across the Ukrainian border. Earlier in the year, a Berlin resident was detained for collecting data for a Russian embassy officer.
Parallel to these actions, former Federal Intelligence Service chief August Hanning was detained on allegations of espionage, treason and funneling classified documents to foreign interests. Investigators report a former BND employee, Manfred D., also faced accusations of exchanging around 2,000 sensitive documents for payment.
Speaking at a conference in Montenegro, Merz warned that similar incidents could increase in the coming months and reaffirmed Germany’s defence partnerships with the United Kingdom, particularly against hybrid attacks and hostile activity. The talks came after German officials accused Russia of deploying a drone with explosives near Leipzig/Halle Airport in September.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised Germany’s actions, alleging evidence manipulation. Germany remains poised to counter continued Russian intelligence efforts while supporting Ukraine’s defensive needs.
