Russian espionage has increased in Germany since the Ukraine war. Drones are apparently systematically monitoring arms transport routes and military bases. Defense Minister Pistorius complains of a game of cat and mouse.
According to media reports, Russia is systematically spying on military transport routes in Germany and other European countries to monitor arms deliveries to Ukraine. The New York Times and Wirtschaftswoche reported this, citing Western intelligence agencies.
"Western intelligence agencies assume that Russia is well informed about which arms and conglomerates are producing for Ukraine, and how relevant the products and quantity of weapons are for the country's defensive war," wrote Wirtschaftswoche.
Pistorius not very surprised
A report in the New York Times, citing sources from US authorities and other Western countries, said that Russia or Russian supporters were using drones to monitor routes in eastern Germany used to deliver military supplies to Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed little surprise. The Bundeswehr is not responsible for monitoring civilian territory or road connections in Germany when it comes to drones, he said in Berlin."But yes, the fact that drones are also flying over ports and railways should come as no surprise. But there isn't a whole lot of action against it."
"Constant cat-and-mouse game"
Pistorius emphasized that the protection of military installations had been strengthened and mentioned techniques for intercepting drones."But this is a constant cat-and-mouse game of a technical nature between what drone developers are doing and what we can do; that, too, is part of the truth."
The Foreign Office stated: "We take the threat to European security posed by Russia very seriously, primarily through its war of aggression against Ukraine, but also through a multitude of other measures of a hybrid nature." The ministry is aware of the reports of alleged drone sightings."We are monitoring current developments very closely," it added.
The Kremlin dismissed the reports as false. It was hard to imagine that the Germans hadn't noticed this and remained silent, said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Assassinations and sabotage
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declined to comment specifically on the reports. However, on the sidelines of an event in Würzburg, he said Russia is capable of hybrid warfare."If they see it as necessary, they can even commit assassinations." Russia is also attempting to disrupt civil air traffic, for example, in Germany and the Baltic states.
According to reports, Russian drones are also scouting military bases. They are flying over Bundeswehr bases, including those where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained. US military bases are also on the reconnaissance list, including Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate, and sites near Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, and Bavaria.
Increase in cases since the Ukraine war
NATO's AWACS base in Geilenkirchen has also been affected by espionage. Intelligence officials reported that overflights are well into the triple digits this year. The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) confirmed the drone overflights to Wirtschaftswoche and cited a significant increase since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The specific figures were not commented on.
