Espionage shock in Berlin: Raid against suspected Russia supporters!

Espionage shock in Berlin: Raid against suspected Russia supporters!

In a spectacular operation, the Federal Prosecutor General (GBA) arrested three people with ties to Russia in Berlin and Brandenburg. The raid took place in Berlin, Königs Wusterhausen and the Märkisch-Oderland district and highlights increasing concerns about foreign influence and secret activities in Germany. How World reported, the arrests are related to allegations of secret service agent activity.

Among those arrested is 56-year-old Ilona W., a German-Ukrainian who had contacts with an employee of the Russian embassy. She is said to have passed on information about German findings on the war in Ukraine and enabled her contact to take part in public events. She was active in political circles in Berlin and was a member of the board of an association in which Walter S., a former Defense Ministry official, also worked. The investigation is also aimed at two high-ranking former employees of the Federal Ministry of Defense, but they were not arrested.

Involvement in a suspicious association

Suren A. and Falko H. were also arrested in Brandenburg, both of whom have connections to the controversial association “Friedensbrücke – War Victims Aid”. This association organizes transport missions to the conflict areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, which, according to investigators, benefit terrorist organizations such as daily news reported. Falko H. was active as a board member and is said to have been involved in forwarding over 14,000 euros in club funds to the war-affected areas. The club itself has been facing investigations into illegal transport of goods since May 2022.

The “Peace Bridge” has stood out on social media with transports to conflict regions, but claims to only provide humanitarian aid. Secret service involvement is brought into play because the club's chairwoman, Liane Kilinc, has fled to Russia and is suspected of supporting pro-Russian fighters in Donbass. Research shows that goods of military use may have even been delivered, while Kilinc claims to only be helping civilians.

Increasing espionage activity

The arrests take place in a challenging geopolitical context. Germany, as the EU's largest member state and third-largest economic power, is a key target for foreign espionage. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, activities have increased significantly, especially after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in 2024. These geopolitical changes not only result in espionage and cyberattacks, but also in the undue influence of foreign secret services that attack the German state's sovereignty.

The Berlin police union expressly warns against international terrorism and the consequences of foreign secret services trying to penetrate and influence the Saxon area. The current case illustrates how confusing and dangerous the network of pro-Russian activities in Germany can be and what dangers threaten from within and without.

This situation shows that Germany must remain vigilant, as influence peddling and intelligence activities remain a pressing problem. The GBA and the security organs are called upon to ensure the integrity and security of political and social structures. Whether today's deployment is an effective signal against foreign influence remains to be seen.