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.

Officials said the suspect, named as Vadym Y., had allegedly collected military-related intelligence from Germany.

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".

Several people alleged to be acting on behalf of Russia and other foreign powers have been arrested in Germany this year. Germany has been one of the leading European suppliers of weapons to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

The German Federal Prosecutor General's Office said on Thursday that Vadym Y., as he was identified under German privacy law, had been in contact with a Russian intelligence service through an intermediary since at least July 2025.

It also said the Ukrainian man had collected information including "on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition, and explosives".

He is due to appear before an investigating judge on Friday.

In January, a woman was arrested in Berlin suspected of gathering information for an intelligence officer at the Russian embassy.

Other arrests this year included a Romanian woman and a Ukrainian man accused of spying on an individual supplying drones from Germany to Ukraine, according to the prosecutor's office.

And, the former German spy chief August Hanning was arrested on suspicion of espionage, treason and obtaining classified information for a foreign power earlier this month. Investigators have not disclosed which foreign powers were involved.

Hanning headed the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005 and has since been working as a private consultant.

Police also arrested former BND employee Manfred D and accused him of passing Hanning about 2,000 classified documents in exchange for money.

Speaking at the sidelines of a conference in Montenegro on Thursday, Merz said: "We will likely see more such cases in the coming months and years."

Merz reaffirmed a series of defence and security partnerships with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham earlier this month, including tackling hybrid attacks and hostile activity.

The talks between the two leaders came after Germany accused Russia of launching a drone fitted with explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport in September.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Germany of planting evidence to blame Russia.