German federal prosecutors said on Thursday that a Ukrainian national, identified as Vadym Y, had been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. The arrest took place in Brandenburg, about 85 km (53 miles) west of Berlin.
Prosecutors said the suspect had been in contact with the Russian secret service through an intermediary since at least July 2025.
Alleged military intelligence targeting NATO’s eastern flank
Prosecutors said the man allegedly gathered military intelligence on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives. He also allegedly collected information on military personnel and defence installations at sites meant to secure NATO’s eastern flank.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is meeting regional leaders in Montenegro for the EU-Western Balkans Summit, said he was “not surprised” by the news of a suspected Russian spy. Authorities have also blamed Russia for drone attacks, which they described as part of Moscow’s “shadow war” against the country.
Armed forces raise sabotage threat level against troops
On Wednesday, Germany’s armed forces raised the threat level of Russian sabotage against their troops and facilities to “significant” for the first time. That is the second-highest rung on their internal threat scale, according to German media reports.
The step followed the mid-September discovery of a crashed drone carrying high explosives near the Wunstorf airbase in Lower Saxony. The drone resembled another explosive-laden unmanned aircraft used in a failed attack at Leipzig/Halle airport in August.
Authorities said the Leipzig attack targeted civilian cargo planes, whereas investigators believe the Wunstorf drone was aimed at military aircraft, according to an internal military document seen by German media. A report also described suspected Russian reconnaissance, including drones flown over a missile defence site in Saxony-Anhalt and a disguised camera filming a strategic railway station in Minden.
BND chief warns of a more dangerous shadow war
Martin Jaeger, head of Germany’s BND spy service, told lawmakers this month that Russia’s undeclared “shadow war” against Germany and its allies was escalating and had “taken on a new, more dangerous character”.
Speaking to an intelligence oversight committee at the Bundestag, he said: “Germany is at risk of being drawn into a violent conflict with Russia.” Moscow has denied involvement and maintains that it is not involved in sabotage or hybrid attacks on European nations.
