Merz warns of intense Russian spying after Ukrainian held as suspected spyरुसका लागि जासुसी गरेको आशङ्कामा युक्रेनी पक्राउ परेपछि जर्मनीमा रुसी जासुसी तीव्र रहेको मर्जको चेतावनी

The Federal Criminal Police Office arrested him in the Oder-Spree district of Brandenburg state, east of Berlin, acting on information from the domestic intelligence agency BfV. The German weekly Der Spiegel said he had been living in Eisenhüttenstadt in eastern Germany.

Prosecutors say the man, identified as Vadim Y., gathered details on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives, and on military structures and personnel on NATO's eastern flank. They say he was in contact with Russian intelligence through an intermediary and also tried to obtain secret information from people in the European defence industry.

Investigators suspect he is linked to Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU.

Merz called the exposure of the case a success but said Russian intelligence activity remains at a high level. He said Germany must be prepared for such incidents because it is a target of Russian intelligence activity, and that more such cases could become public in the coming months and years.

Several people have been arrested in Germany this year on suspicion of spying for foreign powers, including Russia. Germany is among the main countries helping Ukraine against Russia's attack.

Berlin has accused Moscow of espionage, sabotage and other disruptive activity, and Russia has denied such accusations. In September, Germany accused Russia of sending an explosive-laden drone to Leipzig/Halle airport.