Germany arrests Ukrainian man suspected of spying for Russia

German authorities have arrested a Ukrainian man in the state of Brandenburg on suspicion of spying for Russia, according to Germany’s federal prosecutors as reported by Al Jazeera English and DW English. The suspect, identified as Vadym Y., is believed to have been in contact with the Russian secret service through an intermediary since at least July 2025.

Prosecutors said the man gathered defense-related intelligence, including information on the production of armored vehicles, ammunition, explosives, military personnel, and defense installations securing NATO's eastern flank. This intelligence was reportedly passed to a Russian spy agency, according to DW English.

The arrest comes amid heightened concerns over Russian sabotage in Germany. German armed forces recently raised the threat level of Russian sabotage against their troops and facilities to 'significant,' the second-highest level on their internal threat scale, as noted by Al Jazeera English.

This escalation followed discoveries of explosive-laden drones near German military and civilian airports, incidents German authorities attribute to Moscow’s covert operations. The drones targeted military and civilian aircraft, raising alarms about Russia’s 'shadow war' tactics in Germany.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, attending the EU-Western Balkans Summit, commented that he was 'not surprised' by the suspected Russian spy arrest. The suspect is expected to be brought before a judge soon, according to DW English.