A German soldier associated with the Bundeswehr’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has been formally charged with espionage activities for Russia. The federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday that the soldier, working in a capacity that involves equipping and procuring military technology for the Bundeswehr, was arrested in August after offering to cooperate with Russian intelligence.
The accused is reported to have voluntarily approached the Russian consulate in Bonn and its embassy in Berlin multiple times since May 2023, proposing his assistance and subsequently providing information acquired through his professional duties to a Russian intelligence Agency. The arrest occurred in Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, with subsequent searches conducted at his residence and workplace.
Germany’s increasing role as a major supplier of military support to Ukraine has made it a prime target for Russian espionage, a situation exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Instances of leaked communications and discussions regarding arms deliveries to Ukraine have been previously reported.
The case, identified only with the suspect’s first name and initial per German privacy practices, now awaits a decision from the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court’s security division on whether it will proceed to trial.Â
This case emerges alongside another espionage case in Berlin, where a former employee of Germany’s foreign intelligence service has been charged with treason for allegedly relaying secret information to Russian intelligence.
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