German domestic intelligence warns of Russian acts of sabotage Report: Japanese ex-Yakuza fights for Ukraine

The German internal secret service considers acts of Russian sabotage also possible in Germany.

There is an “increased risk” for this, said the chairman of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Thomas Haldenwang, on Monday at a symposium held by his authority in Berlin. “These capabilities are actually available and can also be deployed against German targets and especially critical infrastructure if necessary.”

The intensity, scope and complexity of Russian intelligence activities have noticeably increased since the start of the war in Ukraine, Haldenwang said. Conventional access to information has been drastically restricted for Russia, not least because of the European expulsion of several hundred Russian intelligence employees. “Now they are forced to use alternative methods to satisfy their keen interest in education.”

This is done, for example, by means of cyber attacks, classic agents or so-called smuggled illegals with false identities. “For Germany, the risks have increased. There is no question of any naivety here,” Haldenwang warned.

The president of the Federal Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution (domestic secret service) also reported that the Chinese intelligence services were “very intensive” in their reconnaissance activities. The transfer of know-how is still central to this. “But for the stated goal of global, political, military, economic and scientific leadership, Beijing continues to expend enormous human and financial resources on espionage operations.” (aeg/sda/dpa)