Bruno Kahl, president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), emphasized that the Kremlin perceives the West, including Germany, as an adversary, especially following the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has witnessed a notable rise in both the quantity and quality of Russian espionage and sabotage efforts.

Martina Rosenberg, president of the Military Counterintelligence Service, highlighted that the German military is increasingly targeted for espionage, particularly regarding arms deliveries to Ukraine.

On October 14, 2024, top officials from Germany's intelligence agencies warned of a significant increase in espionage and sabotage activities attributed to Russia, particularly in the context of rising tensions with NATO.

In response to these threats, the German government is implementing new security measures, including enhanced controls on social media to mitigate risks to critical infrastructure.

Intelligence leaders have expressed concerns about their capacity to effectively counter these threats, advocating for greater operational freedom and necessary legislative adjustments.

Both Kahl and Haldenwang noted that Russia is likely preparing for an escalation of hybrid and covert operations aimed at testing Western boundaries.

Haldenwang described the current threat landscape as a 'military hurricane,' underscoring the simultaneous challenges posed by Russia, China, and other geopolitical issues.

Recent sabotage incidents, including fires in London and Madrid, are believed to be orchestrated by low-level agents aiming to instill psychological unrest rather than targeting high-value objectives.

The alert from German intelligence reflects broader concerns among Western nations, which are also on high alert due to a series of suspicious fires linked to Russian operatives across Europe.

Haldenwang asserted that the threat from Russia is escalating, with actions in the Baltic states and Poland perceived as more severe than those in Germany.

Kahl criticized the lack of active cyber defense capabilities and emphasized the need for improved data sharing with the Bundeswehr to enhance national security.