BERLIN – The German government has ordered a Russian diplomat to leave the country after federal prosecutors arrested a dual German-Ukrainian citizen on suspicion of spying for Moscow. This expulsion marks a sharp escalation in Germany’s efforts to crack down on Russian intelligence operations targeting Western military support for Ukraine.
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- Intelligence Gathering: Since late 2023, the suspect allegedly monitored arms shipments to Ukraine and gathered data on drone testing sites.
- Military Infiltration: She reportedly leveraged relationships with former Defense Ministry employees to access sensitive logistics and defense industry information.
- Covert Logistics: The suspect is also accused of helping her Russian handler gain access to high-level political events in Berlin using false identities.
Diplomatic Fallout
Following the arrest, the German Foreign Ministry took immediate action against the Russian Embassy:
- Expulsion: A high-ranking diplomat—identified by security sources as a GRU (military intelligence) colonel—was declared persona non grata.
- The Charge: Officials stated the diplomat’s activities were “incompatible with their diplomatic status,” a common term for espionage.
- The Message: Berlin signaled that it will no longer tolerate Russian agents operating under the guise of military attachés or embassy staff.
Broader Security Concerns
This incident is part of a wider trend of “hybrid warfare” in Europe. Recently, German authorities have disrupted multiple plots involving the tracking of U.S. military bases and the financing of pro-Russian militias. To date, Germany has expelled nearly 500 Russian officials since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
