Suspected spy for Russia arrested in Berlin
On January 21, the German Federal Criminal Police arrested a woman of German and Ukrainian nationality in Berlin. She is suspected of collaborating with Russian intelligence. The arrest warrant for Ilona V. was issued by the Federal Court on December 30, 2025.
According to the investigation, as of November 2023, Ilona V. still maintained contact with the Russian embassy in Berlin. It is believed that she conveyed information about the situation in Ukraine, political figures and their activities, as well as the location of defense facilities and drone testing.
Ilona V. turned to former employees of the German Federal Ministry of Defense for information. She also helped a Russian attend political events in Berlin under pseudonyms to establish useful intelligence contacts.
As part of the investigation, searches were carried out at the homes of Ilona V. and two other suspects, who are still at large. According to Spiegel, the remaining two apartments are owned by former Ministry of Defense employees. Since 2022, the number of arrests on suspicion of spying for Russia has been increasing in Germany. For example, in April 2024, Federal prosecutors arrested two men and it was later discovered that another person was involved in the scheme.
The Munich Higher Regional Court has sentenced three men to prison for espionage. Dieter S., 41 years old, a German citizen of Russian origin, received six years in prison for planning railway sabotage. His co-defendants Alexander Y. and Alex D. received suspended sentences of six months and one year, respectively.
