Overview
- Federal prosecutors say the suspect, identified as German-Ukrainian national Ilona W., had contact since at least November 2023 with a Russian intelligence officer based at the embassy in Berlin.
- Authorities allege she relayed information tied to the war in Ukraine, including defense industry locations, drone tests, planned drone deliveries, and dossiers on participants at high-profile events.
- Prosecutors say she helped the embassy contact attend political events under aliases to cultivate connections useful to Russian intelligence.
- A judge ordered the suspect remanded in custody, while investigations continue into a recently retired officer and a former senior civil servant suspected of having provided her with official information.
- Berlin summoned Ambassador Sergey Nechayev and declared the suspected handler persona non grata; Der Spiegel identified him as GRU officer Andrei M., reportedly ordered to leave within 72 hours, as the Russian embassy dismissed the case as a provocation and warned of a response.