Germany target of 'intensive' espionage, Merz says after suspected Russian spy arrest

Germany is the target of 'intensive' espionage activity, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, after a Ukrainian national was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia.

The suspect, identified under German privacy law as Vadym Y., allegedly collected military-related intelligence from Germany, officials said. The Federal Prosecutor General's Office said he had been in contact with a Russian intelligence service through an intermediary since at least July 2025, gathering information on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives. He is due before an investigating judge on Friday.

Merz called the uncovering of the case a 'success', but warned: 'Let us not delude ourselves - the activities of Russian intelligence services in Germany remain at a consistently high level.'

The arrest is one of several this year. In January, a woman was detained in Berlin on suspicion of gathering information for an intelligence officer at the Russian embassy, while a Romanian woman and a Ukrainian man were accused of spying on a supplier of drones from Germany to Ukraine.

Earlier this month, former German spy chief August Hanning was arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power. Hanning led the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005. A former BND employee, Manfred D, was also arrested, accused of passing him around 2,000 classified documents for money.

Speaking at a conference in Montenegro, Merz said: 'We will likely see more such cases in the coming months and years.' Germany has been one of Europe's leading suppliers of weapons to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.