Holes mysteriously found cut in army base fences.
An alleged plot to assassinate Germany’s top weapons manufacturer.
Phone taps on a high-level Luftwaffe call.
These aren’t storylines lifted from a 1960s spy novel but real-life events in Germany, this year.
Not all of these events can definitively be blamed on Moscow, but Germany is on heightened alert for possible acts of Russian sabotage, because of Berlin’s continued military support for Kyiv.
Germany appears to be experiencing heightened security concerns and potential Russian sabotage efforts amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Recent incidents include:
An alleged plot to assassinate the CEO of Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, which was reported by CNN. The Kremlin denied involvement.
Phone taps on a sensitive Luftwaffe (German air force) call, with a brigadier general seemingly allowing spies onto a secure line.
The arrests of two German-Russian nationals suspected of planning to sabotage U.S. military facilities in Bavaria.
The discovery of holes cut into fences at water facilities supplying two German military bases, raising concerns about contamination.
These events, while not all definitively linked to Russia, have heightened German vigilance against potential acts of Russian sabotage or aggression. Experts draw parallels to the “rawer” early stages of the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s.
The German government is working on new legislation to boost security standards for critical infrastructure, as it grapples with this evolving security environment. Additionally, the politics of the Cold War era have resurfaced, with far-right figures criticizing Germany’s support for Ukraine.
Overall, the situation illustrates how the ripples of the Russia-Ukraine conflict are being felt within Germany, raising fears that Europe may have slipped into a new phase of heightened tensions and clandestine activities reminiscent of the Cold War era.
