Germany, arrest for espionage in the armed forces: “Secrets of the Russians”

Security concerns in Germany following the arrest for spying for Russia of an employee of the Bundeswehr Purchasing Office, the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany and its civilian administration. On Wednesday, August 9, investigators from the German Federal Criminal Police (BKA) arrested an employee of the armed forces on suspicion of undercover agent activity. Federal Minister of the Interior of Germany Nancy Faeser emphasized the worsening security situation in Germany after the war in Ukraine. “The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has also changed the security situation in Germany,” Faeser told Funke Group newspapers. “The threat of espionage, disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks has taken on another dimension,” said Faeser.

Yesterday, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Koblenz reported the arrest of an employee of the German Armed Forces. The man was accused of having worked for Russian secret services. He is said to have contacted the Russian embassy in Berlin and the consulate general in Bonn several times of his own volition and offered his cooperation. The case shows “that our security authorities are keeping an eye on Russian spying in Germany and are taking appropriate countermeasures,” the minister said. “Our security agencies are extremely vigilant. We joined forces and increased protections to address today’s threats. Especially in times of war, the leadership of the Kremlin relies on the work of the Russian secret services», explained Faeser again, underlining that, to counteract the activities of Moscow’s secret services in Germany, the government in Berlin took drastic measures.

Already last December, an employee of the German Federal External Intelligence Service (BND) was arrested for allegedly divulging state secrets to a Russian intelligence service. The man and an alleged accomplice arrested in January are under investigation for treason. Last year there was a case of a reservist in the Bundeswehr environment who was sentenced to probation on suspicion of intelligence activities.