Germany’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that it had summoned the Russian ambassador and told him that an individual within Russia’s embassy in Berlin who is said to have spied for the Kremlin is to be expelled.
On Wednesday, German authorities arrested three people over two apparently separate Russian espionage plots. A woman in Berlin, known only as Ilona W., was accused of passing intelligence about military aid to Ukraine via a contact in the Russian embassy.
In a statement on X, the ministry said that “we do not accept espionage in Germany – and particularly not under the cover of diplomatic status.”
Germany’s defense ministry said on Wednesday that two former German military officials were being investigated for allegedly colluding with Ilona. W.
In a statement made to AFP, the Russian embassy called the allegations “a ridiculous, hastily concocted provocation” – adding that they had “made it clear that Berlin’s unfriendly actions would not go unanswered.”
Also on Thursday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland – telling an audience of world leaders that the “old world order is unraveling at a breathtaking pace,” in large part due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Last month, Germany’s parliament approved roughly €50 billion ($59 billion) in defense spending – “fulfilling our obligations to [NATO] and accepting our responsibility for security and peace in Europe,” in the words of its defense ministry.
Like many European countries, Germany has also been grappling with the challenge posed by unidentified drones – believed by many European officials to originate in Russia – violating its airspace.
Late last year, airports were forced to close on several occasions after drones appeared in German skies.