Germany Has Seen An Increase In Russian Espionage Attempts

The EU is expanding its toolkit for countering.

Germany's military counterintelligence service MAD has recorded a significant increase in espionage attempts and subversive measures by Russian intelligence services in the FRG.

This was announced by MAD head Martina Rosenberg in an interview with the dpa agency in Berlin, which quoted her as saying on Monday, July 21.

-"We are talking about a sharp increase in cases of espionage and hybrid measures. The approach has become more massive and aggressive," Rosenberg emphasized. - They are operating with methods known since the Cold War and expanding their toolkit.

Disinformation, cyberattacks, drone flights

These include attempts to spy on German military facilities and infrastructure, sabotage of supply lines, disinformation, cyberattacks and drone flights protected from electronic warfare.

The number of detected cases has almost doubled in a year, dpa wrote. Russian agents continue to enter Germany through third countries, it said.

- They are trying to build relationships or a basis for trust. There is also a risk that people with Russian roots, ethnic German returnees or with ties to the Russian Federation will be targeted," Rosenberg elaborated. According to her, a special threat may arise during vacation trips of German servicemen or persons with dual citizenship to Russia and allied countries - there may be pressure or coercion to cooperate.

Expanded powers in connection with the formation of the Lithuanian brigade

Additional tasks are assigned to the MAD in connection with the formation of the Lithuanian brigade - a German combat unit in a state on NATO's eastern flank with up to 5,000 troops.

In this connection, the Military Intelligence Service has been given expanded powers.

- It is no secret that Germany is a logistical center for the transfer of alliance troops and - as an active NATO partner - is firmly in the field of vision of foreign intelligence services. The best defense against espionage is to take the threat seriously, to react carefully to the signs and to inform the competent authorities in good time," the agency's interlocutor said.

European Union expands counter-espionage tools

The MAD's tasks include protecting the armed forces, countering extremists and checking the security of military and civilian employees. The MAD reports to the German Ministry of Defense and is based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia.

In late 2024, the European Parliament voted to create a special committee to protect European democracy. This committee evaluates the EU's set of tools to combat malicious interference in democratic processes, including the European Democratic Shield recommended by the European Commission.

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