Event f40d5361-7bc4-4384-9aee-c8f769d10c83

Healthy processed event from Hybrid War Tracker

Status: Healthy (Processed) Last Updated: 2026-02-13 Confidence: High Classification: Intelligence & Espionage > Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Country: Germany Where: Land Node: Node 1: Borders Node: Node 2: 5th Column Tag: Hybrid warfare Tag: Espionage Tag: Russian covert operations Tag: Germany Tag: Military counterintelligence Tag: Sabotage Tag: NATO logistics Aggressor Confidence: High
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Event Time
2y ago
Created
2w ago
✏️
Updated
1d ago

Summary

Headline: Putin is stepping up ‘aggressive’ hybrid attacks on Germany, spy chief warns

Short Summary: Martina Rosenberg, president of Germany’s Military Counterintelligence Service, warned on July 21, 2023, of a sharp increase in Russian espionage and hybrid tactics targeting Germany. Russia's covert operations have intensified, including sabotage at sea such as broken cables and oil supply disruptions, alongside recruitment of unwitting local agents. Prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Germany had already expelled Russian diplomats in 2021 over covert activities. A notable incident involved a Ukrainian teenager recruited by Russia who triggered an explosion in an Ikea store in Vilnius, Lithuania in March 2024. Rosenberg emphasized Germany’s role as a NATO logistical hub and active target for foreign intelligence. The approach from Moscow has become more massive and aggressive, highlighting the ongoing hybrid threat posed by Russia to Germany and its NATO allies.

Extended Summary: Martina Rosenberg, president of Germany’s Military Counterintelligence Service, warned on July 21, 2023, of a sharp increase in Russian espionage and hybrid tactics targeting Germany. Russia's covert operations have intensified, including sabotage at sea such as broken cables and oil supply disruptions, alongside recruitment of unwitting local agents. Prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Germany had already expelled Russian diplomats in 2021 over covert activities. A notable incident involved a Ukrainian teenager recruited by Russia who triggered an explosion in an Ikea store in Vilnius, Lithuania in March 2024. Rosenberg emphasized Germany’s role as a NATO logistical hub and active target for foreign intelligence. The approach from Moscow has become more massive and aggressive, highlighting the ongoing hybrid threat posed by Russia to Germany and its NATO allies.

Description

Germany's military counterintelligence chief, Martina Rosenberg, warned in July 2023 that Russia has significantly increased its hybrid espionage and covert operations targeting German society. Cases of suspected Russian involvement have doubled in the first half of 2023. Germany, a NATO partner and logistical hub, is frequently targeted for intelligence operations, including sabotage by the German navy such as broken cables and metal shrapnel on ships. Russia's secret services recruit unwitting agents, exemplified by a Ukrainian teenager who caused an explosion in Lithuania in March 2024. German courts have expelled Russian diplomats linked to covert actions, demonstrating ongoing Russian espionage and destabilization tactics.

Event Classification

Aggressor Event

Rationale

The article is an official report quoting Germany's military counterintelligence chief highlighting intensified Russian espionage, sabotage, and hybrid attacks targeting Germany, confirming clear aggressor activity by Russia without describing defense preparations.