BND chief: Germany at risk of violent conflict with Russia
Germany is in danger of being drawn into a violent conflict with Russia, the head of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Martin Jäger, told lawmakers on Monday, 5 October. Speaking at the annual public hearing of the Bundestag's Parliamentary Oversight Panel, Jäger said no other country currently poses such a direct, comprehensive and concrete threat to Germany, and that the confrontation with Moscow has reached a new, more dangerous level.
The heads of all three federal intelligence services appeared together: Jäger, Sinan Selen of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and Martina Rosenberg of the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD). They described a Russian "shadow war" against Germany that includes intimidation, disinformation, cyberattacks and preparations for sabotage. As an example they pointed to the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle airport on 4 August, when a drone packed with explosives was found next to a Ukrainian cargo plane. The federal government blamed Russia for that incident on 1 September.
The warning is not a forecast of imminent war. Jäger said he currently sees no signs of a large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory and no information that Moscow is preparing one, although Russia could be capable of such an attack from 2029. Selen stressed that the threat is already here: "We are being attacked now, not only in 2029."
For people living in Germany, the services expect more attempts at intimidation and interference, and Jäger did not rule out nuclear threats as a means of pressure. The agencies say they need wider powers, and a reform of the intelligence services is already before the Bundestag. Treat dramatic claims on social media with caution and rely on official sources. Anyone who notices suspicious drones or activity near airports, rail lines or military sites should call the police on 110.