German Prosecutor's Office Warns of Russian Spy Network Targeting Ukraine Support

The German Federal Prosecutor's Office (Bundesanwaltschaft) has warned that Russian intelligence is increasingly relying on cheap, untrained auxiliary agents in Germany. Generalbundesanwalt Jens Rommel said these agents gather information not only within German territory but also “prepare further intelligence measures – namely sabotage or possibly attacks on surveilled target persons.”

Since the start of 2026 the office has made several arrests: a pro‑Russian networker with German‑Ukrainian ties was detained for collecting details on high‑level political events, defence‑industry sites, drone tests and planned drone deliveries to Ukraine, also contacting former Bundeswehr personnel. A Romanian and a Ukrainian were arrested for spying on a person supplying drones to Ukraine from Germany. Another Ukrainian was caught monitoring a former Ukrainian combatant living in Germany, and a Kazakh citizen was seized for passing on information about German military aid to Ukraine and the German defence industry. As of 1 March 2026 the prosecutor’s office was handling 20 investigations involving 23‑24 suspects, up from 16 cases in 2024.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) warned that the war in Ukraine has acted as a catalyst for Russian intelligence, targeting political, military and critical‑infrastructure sites.