‘Germany is at risk’: Spy chief warns Russia’s shadow war could trigger ‘violent’ conflict
Germany risks being drawn into a violent conflict with Russia as Moscow steps up what Berlin describes as an increasingly aggressive “shadow war” involving espionage, sabotage and other hybrid operations, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service has warned.According to news agency Reuters, Martin Jaeger, head of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), told lawmakers at the annual public hearing of intelligence chiefs in parliament that the confrontation with Russia had entered a more dangerous phase.“The confrontation we are facing with Russia has taken on a new, more dangerous dimension,” Jaeger said.“Germany is at risk of being drawn into a violent conflict with Russia,” he added. “No other country currently poses such a direct, comprehensive, and concrete threat to Germany.”Jaeger cited an attempted attack at Leipzig airport in August involving an explosives-laden drone, with Russian agents identified as the prime suspects. German authorities have repeatedly accused Moscow of conducting a hybrid campaign targeting the country and its allies. Russia has denied the allegations.Jaeger said Germany had “become a major obstacle to Russia’s projection of hegemonic power in Europe — and, consequently, a target of Russian actions”.He said the BND currently sees “no indication” of plans for a major Russian military attack on a NATO member. However, he warned that “low-level Russian military activities could occur, particularly in the Baltic states”.Russia has repeatedly denied any intention of attacking NATO countries.“We are not threatening anyone,” Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. “We have no intention of attacking anyone – whether in 2029, 2030 or 2050 – but if we are subjected to aggression, we will have no choice but to respond.”The warning came as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Kyiv on Sunday in a show of support for Ukraine as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities intensified.“If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us,” Merz said, adding: “You can continue to count on our help.”Germany has provided Ukraine with more than €43.3 billion ($48.8 billion) in aid since the war began and remains one of Kyiv’s largest supporters.Merz and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also visited a damaged building of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in central Kyiv.“These barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop. These are daily war crimes,” Merz said at the site, while calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.Russia’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, has said it would continue carrying out “mass retaliatory strikes” on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.Germany’s domestic intelligence chief, Sinan Selen, said Russian operations were extending beyond traditional espionage.“Sabotage and assassinations” were increasingly part of the threat, Selen said, adding that “the defence industry and military infrastructure are in the crosshairs”.
