Germany expels a Russian diplomat over a spying case
Germany expelled a Russian diplomat after uncovering a spying case related to the war in Ukraine. This move reaffirms Berlin's policy of zero tolerance towards espionage activities, especially when conducted under diplomatic cover.
The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt – Federal Foreign Office) confirmed that it summoned the Russian ambassador and officially informed him of the expulsion decision. The authorities clarified that the expelled person had been working for Russian intelligence while in Germany.
Foreign Minister Johan Vadivul stated that the diplomat, who held the position of Deputy Military Attaché at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, has been declared persona non grata with immediate effect. Officials linked the decision directly to an ongoing investigation in the field of counterintelligence.
The case revolves around a Ukrainian-German woman named Ilona W. According to the Federal Prosecutor General (Generalbundesanwalt), she had been in contact with a Russian intelligence officer working at the embassy since at least November 2023. She is accused of leaking information related to defense industry locations, drone testing, and plans to deliver drones to Ukraine.
Investigators suspect that she assisted her intelligence official in attending political events in Berlin using a fake identity, in addition to gathering background information on participants in high-level political events. She is currently being held in pre-trial detention after her arrest in Berlin.
Additional investigations are underway regarding the role of two former members of the German army (Bundeswehr), who are suspected of having provided the accused with official information. The Ministry of Defense reported that one of them is a recently retired military officer, and the other is a senior civilian employee who left the army more than 15 years ago.
For its part, the Russian embassy rejected the accusations, warning that the expulsion of the diplomat would not go unanswered, and accused Germany of escalating tensions through fabricated claims. This diplomatic confrontation further complicates the already strained relations between Berlin and Moscow amid rising security concerns in Europe.