Ukrainian woman detained in Germany: suspected of spying for Russia
A woman with German-Ukrainian citizenship was detained in the German capital Berlin on suspicion of espionage activities on behalf of Russian special services.
This is stated in a statement by the German Federal Prosecutor's Office, as reported by Censor.NET.
What is known?
It is noted that on January 21, German law enforcement officers detained Ilona V., a citizen of Germany and Ukraine, in Berlin.
At the same time, searches were carried out at the detainee's residence and at the premises of two other suspects who remain at large in the Havelland district (federal state of Brandenburg), in the Arweiler district (federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate), and in Munich.
Gathering information for the benefit of the Russian Federation
- According to the investigation, the Ukrainian woman had been maintaining intelligence contacts with the Russian embassy in Berlin since at least November 2023.
"Her contact person worked for one of the Russian special services. The suspect repeatedly passed him information related to the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine," the prosecutor's office said.
Specifically, this involves collecting background information on participants in high-level political events, obtaining information about defense industry facilities, testing unmanned aerial vehicles, and planned deliveries of drones to Ukraine. To this end, the suspect contacted former employees associated with the German Federal Ministry of Defense.
Consideration of a motion for arrest
In addition, the suspect helped an employee of the Russian embassy attend political events in Berlin under fictitious names "in order to establish contacts of interest to Russian intelligence."
In the near future, the detainee will be brought before an investigating judge of the German Federal Supreme Court, who will decide on her further detention.
