Russian Espionage and Sabotage in Germany Have Doubled Over the Past Year

The number of Russian espionage and sabotage operations in Germany has doubled over the past year.

Martina Rosenberg, President of Germany’s Military Counterintelligence Service reported on this, according to Die Zeit.

According to her, Russia has significantly intensified its espionage activities and hybrid operations on German territory.

The number of suspicious incidents has progressively doubled in the past 12 months, with Russian intelligence services acting increasingly aggressively – employing tactics reminiscent of the Cold War and expanding their arsenal of influence tools.

Military Counterintelligence Service notes that Russian agents are entering Germany via third countries, attempting to establish contact with people of Russian origin, recent immigrants, and individuals with personal or business ties to Russia.

Russian intelligence services pay special attention to German military personnel and individuals with dual citizenship who visit Russia or countries allied with the Russian Federation. In such cases, there is a risk of pressure and recruitment.

The agency also notes that German Navy ships are increasingly becoming targets of sabotage.

In recent months, several cases of deliberate damage to military vessels have been recorded, including cut cables, foreign objects in engines, and toxic substances in water systems.

Counterintelligence also warns of an increase in information attacks and the spread of disinformation as part of a hybrid campaign aimed at destabilizing Germany’s internal situation.

Martina Rosenberg emphasizes that Germany remains a focal point for foreign intelligence services because it is a key NATO logistics hub. In the context of renewed geopolitical tensions, MAD is restoring functions similar to those it performed during the East-West confrontation.

Militarnyi previously reported that in Germany, Russians had set fire to a parking lot with Bundeswehr army trucks at a military facility in Erfurt.

The authors of the Russian channel claimed that ‘our people’ had burned military equipment that had allegedly belonged to the Ukrainian army and had been taken to Erfurt for maintenance.

In addition, in April 2024, German special police forces detained two Russians of German descent who were filming sensitive military facilities and preparing a series of explosions targeting military infrastructure sites, defense enterprises, and industrial facilities.