German public prosecutors officially filed charges on Monday against a woman in the capital, Berlin, suspected of engaging in espionage activities on behalf of Russia. The accused faces allegations of providing sensitive information to an employee of a Russian intelligence
service, operating within the Russian Embassy staff. These actions fall under the charge of conducting intelligence activities for the benefit of a foreign entity, according to a statement released by the country's highest prosecutorial authority. The defendant, a German-Ukrainian national, was
arrested last January and has remained in pre-trial detention since then. The federal prosecutor's indictment indicates that she established contact with the Russian intelligence officer no later than October 2023. According to the details provided, over several years, the accused
supplied this officer with extensive information regarding high-level events, and facilitated his attendance at such events, sometimes under an assumed name. The primary objective of these activities was to enable the Russian officer to build his own network for intelligence
purposes. Furthermore, the accused, according to the prosecution, sought to recruit individuals from the German Ministry of Defense and the arms industry sector. The Russian intelligence, through its employee, reportedly requested her to gather information concerning German defense policy and military
industries, particularly in the context of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The State Security Department of the Berlin Higher Regional Court is now set to decide whether and when a trial for the accused woman will proceed. Concurrently with her
arrest last January, authorities conducted search operations at premises belonging to the German-Ukrainian woman, as well as at the residences of two other suspected individuals. These measures extended to various regions, including Reifweiler in Rhineland-Palatinate, Havelland in Brandenburg, and the
city of Munich. At the time, the public prosecutor's office did not disclose additional details about the other two suspects, stating only that they were at large. The operation had also targeted, according to earlier information, two former members of the
German army. One was a recently retired staff officer, and the other a senior service employee who had left the German army over fifteen years prior. Authorities at the time suspected that these two individuals had divulged information related to
their work to an intermediary. To date, the federal public prosecutor has not provided any updates regarding the potential involvement of these two suspects. It is noted that the suspect woman had lived in Germany for several decades, recently working in
marketing services, and also held the position of chairperson for a lobbying association. Security sources reported at the time of her arrest that she had long been known for her activism within pro-Russian networks, actively participating in political circles in
Berlin, and attending various events organized by associations and organizations. Information received so far does not indicate that the accused received any payments for her activities, while her previous statements, according to informed sources, suggest she acted out of personal conviction.
The investigation conducted by the federal prosecutor is based on information provided by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (domestic intelligence) and the Federal Military Intelligence Office. Following these developments, the German Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador
the day after the arrest over the espionage allegations. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that "this is a hostile act and intelligence activities in our country are completely unacceptable, especially under the guise of diplomatic work." The Foreign Ministry also
informed the Ambassador that a Russian embassy employee, accredited as a diplomat, had been proven to have engaged in espionage in Germany, rendering him "persona non grata with immediate effect."
