Germany’s military counterintelligence service has identified the country as a priority target for Russian intelligence as Berlin strengthens its armed forces and deploys new weapons. The warning covers cyber-attacks, drone activity, espionage, sabotage and pressure on transport, energy and telecommunications infrastructure.
The Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) made the assessment in its annual report published on 14 September 2026, according to media reports published the following day. Russia is seeking information about German weapons, the size of the Bundeswehr and the locations where military systems are deployed, while hybrid threats against Germany are showing a sustained upward trend.
Pressure on a key Nato country
The assessment places Germany at the centre of a broader escalation in Russian hybrid operations against Nato countries. Berlin’s technological and political weight within the alliance, its firm support for Ukraine and its decision to reinforce and rearm the Bundeswehr have made it a particularly important target for the Kremlin.
These operations are not confined to conventional espionage. The threats identified by MAD range from attacks conducted through cyberspace and the use of drones to acts of sabotage against infrastructure that is essential to the functioning of the German state and economy. Transport networks, energy facilities and telecommunications systems are all exposed to the pressure described in the report.
The significance of the warning lies in the expected durability of the campaign. The measures directed against Germany are presented as part of a long-term Russian effort to weaken the country’s capacity to defend itself and to challenge its political direction. Rather than a series of isolated incidents, the pattern points to sustained pressure designed to exploit vulnerabilities across military, social and economic life.
Military information and personal vulnerabilities
Russian intelligence is particularly interested in data about Germany’s military capabilities. That includes details of weapons, the number of troops and the locations of military systems. Such information can help Moscow assess the scale and readiness of the Bundeswehr as Berlin increases its defence capacity.
MAD has also highlighted risks to Bundeswehr soldiers who have family connections in Russia or Belarus. Personnel visiting either country could become targets for pressure or blackmail by local security services, according to the report. The warning shows that the threat is not limited to classified networks or military installations: personal relationships and travel can also be used as instruments of intelligence gathering and coercion.
For soldiers with relatives in the two countries, those connections may create particular exposure. The concern identified by German counterintelligence is that local authorities could use family ties or a person’s presence in Russia or Belarus to exert influence. That makes individual security part of the wider challenge facing Germany as it expands its armed forces.
Disinformation and political disruption
The Russian campaign also aims to weaken public and political support for Germany’s strategic choices. Its objectives include undermining German defence capabilities, discrediting support for Ukraine and obstructing Berlin’s course towards stronger sanctions against Russia.
Disinformation remains the Kremlin’s traditional instrument, but the campaign described in the materials extends beyond online manipulation. It includes the financing of destructive activity by right- and left-wing radical parties and movements, as well as cyber-attacks, sabotage and espionage. Together, these methods are intended to widen divisions inside Germany while increasing the costs of its support for Ukraine and its opposition to Russian policy.
The report therefore presents Germany’s security challenge as both physical and political. Damage to infrastructure could disrupt essential services, while attacks on information and public confidence could weaken the domestic support needed for rearmament, sanctions and assistance to Ukraine. The central unresolved issue is how effectively Berlin can protect its military expansion and democratic consensus while Russian pressure continues to intensify.
How should Germany balance stronger counterintelligence measures with the need to preserve public trust and political openness?
