In Germany on October 22, a 53-year-old Ukrainian citizen was detained, suspected of working for Russian intelligence. According to investigators, the man collected information about European defense enterprises, arms production, and NATO military infrastructure.
This is reported by the German agency dpa with reference to the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany. Further details of the case are provided by Lithuanian public broadcasting LRT.
The suspect, whom German law enforcement refers to as Vadim Y., was detained by officers of the Federal Criminal Police Office in the Oder-Spree district of the federal state of Brandenburg. The man lived in the town of Eisenhüttenstadt near the Polish border.
According to the prosecutor's office, no later than July 2025 the Ukrainian established contact with a Russian intelligence service through an intermediary. After that, he allegedly began collecting information in Germany of interest to Russian intelligence.
Investigators found that the suspect was interested in the production of armored vehicles, ammunition, and explosives. In addition, he collected data on military personnel and facilities intended to ensure the security of NATO's eastern flank.
Some of the information was publicly available. However, to obtain other information, the man, according to the investigation, purposefully established contacts with representatives of the European defense industry.
A particular interest of the suspect was the 45th Armored Brigade of the Bundeswehr, which Germany is deploying to Lithuania. This was reported by Der Spiegel, citing its own sources.
The German brigade is being created to strengthen the defense of the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. Its full deployment in Lithuania is planned for 2027, and the strength of the unit is to be about five thousand servicemen.
The basis for the detention was a warrant from the Federal Court of Justice of Germany, issued on October 15. The investigation began after information was received by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which is responsible for counterintelligence and internal security issues.
On Friday, October 23, the suspect is to be brought before an investigating judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe. The judge will consider the question of further detention of the man.
As the Financial Times writes, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned after the detention about the intensification of Russian intelligence activities. In his assessment, Germany faces a growing threat of espionage and sabotage.
German law enforcement agencies are also investigating other alleged operations of Russian special services directed against the defense industry, military logistics, and facilities related to support for Ukraine.
At the same time, the current detention is a separate episode. Earlier, "Kurs Ukrainy" reported about another 53-year-old Ukrainian who was charged with espionage for Russia in September. In that case, it was about collecting information about a former member of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Officially, Vadim Y. is charged with alleged agent activity on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. His guilt has not been established by a court.
