German counterintelligence alerts. Russian services more bold and aggressive

natemat.pl 5 hours ago
German military counterintelligence MAD has observed a crucial increase in Russian spy activity and hybrid activities.


– We are talking about a crucial increase in cases of espionage and hybrid activities. The approach is more massive and besides more aggressive," said the DPA agency head of German military counterintelligence MAD Martina Rosenberg.

According to her, Russian intelligence services "are applying the same approach we know from the Cold War and expanding their toolbox".

Recently, concerns have been raised, among others, by alleged cases of spying on military facilities and crucial parts of infrastructure in Germany, sabotage of supply lines, cyber attacks, as well as ultramodern and protected flights from drone interference.

Cases of deliberate misinformation, considered as part of various destabilisation tactics, which are so besides referred to as hybrids, are besides frequently observed.

Twice as many suspicious cases


According to DPA information, the number of suspected cases of espionage and hybrid activities has virtually doubled over the year. Russian agents can inactive get to Germany through 3rd countries. They work by building and utilizing a network of direct contacts. – Trying to make a relation or a basis for trust. There is besides a hazard that they are addressing especially people with Russian roots, German repatriates from Russia or people with ties to Russia – Rosenberg warns.

A danger may be erstwhile German soldiers or people with dual, German-Russian citizenship travel to Russia or countries allied with Russia on holiday. They could be pressured or forced to cooperate with Russian services.

In view of the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania to defend against the threat from Russia, the MAD services received additional tasks and extended powers. “It is no secret that Germany is simply a logistics hub for NATO military movements, and as an active NATO partner they are targeted by abroad intelligence services,” said Rosenberg. "The best protection against espionage is to treat this threat seriously, to respond attentively to signals and to inform the applicable authorities in good time," she stressed.

Sabotage against warships


The MAD's task is to defend the armed forces, combat extremists and check soldiers and civilian personnel for security. It is the smallest of the German intelligence services, under the authority of the Ministry of Defence and is based in Cologne. The defence against espionage and sabotage again became her main task, as in the time of the East-West confrontation.

In fresh months, the targets of the alleged sabotage have been German Navy ships. Sometimes they were cut cable beams, erstwhile metallic chips in the drive, and then oil leaking into the drinking water system.

However, Russian intelligence services have been stepping up their efforts in Germany and against this country for years. Russian services are credited with, for example, the hacking attack on the Bundestag in 2015, as well as the killing of Georgian in Tiergarten Park in 2019. Convicted of this act, Russian agent Wadim Krasikov was released last August as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia, Belarus and respective Western countries.

Written by Anna Widzyk


Read Entire Article