Germany target of 'intensive' espionage, Merz says after suspected Russian spy arrest
A Ukrainian man was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia - one of several such cases in Germany this year.
Germany has become the target of "intensive" espionage, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said following the arrest of a suspected Russian spy.
Merz said Russian intelligence activity in Germany is still "at a consistently high level" after a Ukrainian national was detained on suspicion of spying for Russia.
Authorities said the suspect, identified as Vadym Y., was alleged to have gathered military-related intelligence in Germany.
Merz described the exposure of the case as a "success", but cautioned: "let us not delude ourselves - the activities of Russian intelligence services in Germany remain at a consistently high level".
This year, Germany has seen the arrest of several people accused of acting for Russia and other foreign powers. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Germany has been one of the main European suppliers of weapons to Ukraine.
On Thursday, the German Federal Prosecutor General's Office said Vadym Y., named under German privacy law, had been in contact with a Russian intelligence service through an intermediary since at least July 2025.
The office also said the Ukrainian man had collected information including "on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition, and explosives".
He is scheduled to appear before an investigating judge on Friday.
In January, a woman was arrested in Berlin on suspicion of collecting information for an intelligence officer at the Russian embassy.
Other arrests this year included a Romanian woman and a Ukrainian man accused of spying on someone supplying drones from Germany to Ukraine, according to the prosecutor's office.
Earlier this month, German spy chief August Hanning was arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power. Investigators have not said which foreign powers were involved.
Hanning led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005 and has since worked as a private consultant.
Police also detained former BND employee Manfred D and accused him of giving Hanning about 2,000 classified documents in return for money.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Montenegro on Thursday, Merz said: "We will likely see more such cases in the coming months and years."
Earlier this month, Merz renewed a series of defence and security partnerships with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, including efforts to counter hybrid attacks and hostile activity.
Germany accused Russia in September of launching a drone fitted with explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Russia.