Germany’s military faces mounting pressure from Russian intelligence services, which have intensified their efforts in response to Berlin’s continued support for Ukraine, according to the German Military Counterintelligence Service (Militärischer Abschirmdienst, MAD).
Russia escalates covert operations against German army
The MAD’s 2024 annual report, released on 9 December 2025, warns that the Bundeswehr—the German Army—has become a declared reconnaissance target of foreign intelligence services — with Russia identified as a key threat. As Germany continues to arm, train, and support Ukraine, Russian agencies have increasingly focused on obtaining information about the Bundeswehr’s troop strength, weapons systems, command structures, and stationing decisions.
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The report highlights a surge in attempts to obtain classified military information, including direct outreach to Bundeswehr personnel. Russian operatives have used drones to fly over military sites and have allegedly committed acts of sabotage, including multiple incidents involving naval vessels and suspected tampering with drinking water infrastructure.
The report cites the March 2024 leak of a phone call between German Air Force officers by Russian media as a notable case. MAD cites this episode as an example of Moscow’s broader hybrid campaign aimed at undermining Germany’s credibility and exposing sensitive military communications.
Disinformation and sabotage as tools of espionage
The MAD report also details ongoing disinformation efforts and influence operations targeting Germany’s internal and external security policy. These include attempts to erode public trust in German security institutions and to destabilize public perception through coordinated narratives and information warfare.
According to the report, espionage against the Bundeswehr is no longer limited to traditional intelligence collection. It increasingly involves cyber threats, electromagnetic spectrum exploitation, and AI-driven surveillance technologies. Russia’s interest extends beyond battlefield-related intelligence to areas like logistics, operational readiness, and Germany’s evolving NATO posture.
The deployment of a German brigade to Lithuania, as part of NATO’s eastern defense commitments, has further heightened Russia’s espionage focus. MAD warns that this stationing has made the Bundeswehr a direct surveillance target.
Expanded countermeasures
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In response to these threats, MAD conducted over 60,000 personnel security checks in 2024, covering new recruits as well as long-serving military staff. These measures are designed to ensure individual reliability and prevent internal vulnerabilities. Each case, the report emphasizes, represents a decision about whether a person can be trusted with security-sensitive duties.
Despite criticism over the duration of these checks, MAD stresses that thoroughness is critical given the rising level of threat. The agency also notes that ongoing improvements in staffing, legal powers, and funding are essential to maintain effective counterintelligence operations.
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MAD President Martina Rosenberg urged vigilance, stating that the best protection against espionage is to take the threat seriously, remain alert to signs of infiltration, and report them promptly to authorities.
Broader context and structural reforms
The report links the current surge in espionage to broader geopolitical changes since Russia’s February 2022 war of aggression against Ukraine. It underscores that hybrid warfare — combining digital manipulation, sabotage, and covert operations — has become a defining threat model.
MAD has launched an internal restructuring process aimed at adapting to this reality. The reforms are intended to enhance strategic flexibility and ensure the agency can fulfill its legal mandate both in peacetime and under crisis conditions, without needing continual structural overhauls.
