Germany Accuses Ukrainian National of Spying for Russia

Germany has charged Ilona V., a businesswoman holding dual German-Ukrainian citizenship, with spying for Russia.

The Office of the Federal Prosecutor published the statement on its website.

According to the investigation, she used her contacts in political and military circles to gather information on the country’s defense policy.

“The defendant is reasonably suspected of acting as an agent of a foreign intelligence service,” the statement reads.

The woman was arrested on January 21 and is currently in custody.

According to the investigation, Ilona V.’s leadership of a Berlin-based marketing agency and lobbying organization gave her an extensive network of contacts in military and political circles.

In particular, since at least October 2023, she had maintained contact with a Russian intelligence officer stationed at the Russian Embassy in Berlin.

For several years, the defendant provided him with extensive information about high-profile events and arranged his participation, sometimes under a false name. This was intended to allow him to build his own network of contacts for intelligence purposes.

The prosecutor’s office also stated that Ilona V. personally attended relevant events, where she sought out “contacts and potential targets of interest.”

In addition, she attempted to recruit employees of the Federal Ministry of Defense and representatives of Germany’s defense industry.

“Finally, acting on instructions from her contact, the defendant sought to obtain information on Germany’s defense policy and defense industry, particularly in the context of the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” the Office of the Federal Prosecutor added.

This year, Germany has also seen an increase in sabotage attacks targeting various facilities. Recently, German police foiled an attempted act of sabotage at two electrical substations.