Germany is facing heightened espionage threats from Russia, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, following the arrest of a Ukrainian national accused of spying for the Kremlin. The 53-year-old suspect, identified as Vadym Y, has been charged with passing sensitive information about military sites and arms factories to Russian intelligence since at least July 2025.

According to Germany’s federal prosecutor, Vadym Y allegedly gathered details relating to the production of armored vehicles, ammunition, explosives, as well as personnel and military facilities securing NATO’s eastern flank. The case highlights Russia’s intensified covert efforts against Europe, with German authorities describing Vadym Y as a prolific recruit.

Speaking at a summit in Montenegro, Merz described the espionage activity as “intense” and cautioned that more cases were likely to emerge in the coming years. “We will probably see more cases like this in the coming months and years,” he said.

This warning follows a recent briefing by Martin Jäger, head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND), who told lawmakers that Russia views Germany as its primary adversary in Europe. Jäger emphasized that no other country currently presents such a comprehensive and direct threat to Germany’s security.

Germany’s strong support for Ukraine has made its military installations, logistics hubs, and arms manufacturers prime targets for Russian espionage and sabotage activities. Over the past two years, German security services have tracked numerous surveillance incidents, with growing frequency, intended to provide Russian intelligence with data to facilitate sabotage, assassinations, and other hostile operations.

Intelligence agencies have heightened their warnings to defense companies, alerting executives that they themselves are now considered potential targets by Russian operatives acting under President Vladimir Putin’s direction.

Authorities allege Vadym Y not only conducted physical surveillance of sensitive sites but also solicited information specifically from individuals within the European defense industry. The federal prosecutor stated that Vadym Y passed the collected intelligence to an “intermediary” linked to Russian intelligence services.

Russian espionage networks have frequently exploited vulnerable or ideologically sympathetic Ukrainian refugees and migrants. A similar case earlier this year involved the arrest of a 33-year-old Ukrainian who was accused of photographing a military site in Bavaria at the direction of a Russian handler known only through online contact.

In contrast, Vadym Y reportedly undertook repeated, complex assignments, including extracting intelligence directly from defense industry contacts, signaling an escalation in the scope and sophistication of Russian spy operations in Germany.