On January 22, 2026, Germany expelled Andrei Mayorov, Russia's deputy military attaché and GRU colonel, accusing him of espionage. Mayorov was identified as the handler of Ilona Kopylova-Wiener, a triple citizen of Russia, Ukraine, and Germany, who was arrested in Berlin. Wiener led a consulting firm and used her extensive network to meet German politicians and business leaders, including sharing information on a 2023 NATO conference held in Berlin. Investigators suspect she brought Mayorov undercover to some of these events. Wiener also cultivated ties with former German Air Force officers linked to a sensitive nuclear weapons base, potentially to recruit or gather intelligence. Though searches were conducted and phones seized, no detentions apart from Wiener have occurred. Mayorov's background includes serving as a paratrooper and work at the GRU's 162nd Center for Military-Technical Information. This incident highlights active Russian covert espionage efforts targeting Germany's political and defense sectors.

On January 22, 2026, Germany expelled Andrei Mayorov, Russia's deputy military attaché and GRU colonel, accusing him of espionage. Mayorov was identified as the handler of Ilona Kopylova-Wiener, a triple citizen of Russia, Ukraine, and Germany, who was arrested in Berlin. Wiener led a consulting firm and used her extensive network to meet German politicians and business leaders, including sharing information on a 2023 NATO conference held in Berlin. Investigators suspect she brought Mayorov undercover to some of these events. Wiener also cultivated ties with former German Air Force officers linked to a sensitive nuclear weapons base, potentially to recruit or gather intelligence. Though searches were conducted and phones seized, no detentions apart from Wiener have occurred. Mayorov's background includes serving as a paratrooper and work at the GRU's 162nd Center for Military-Technical Information. This incident highlights active Russian covert espionage efforts targeting Germany's political and defense sectors.