German Army Captain Admits Spying for Russia

International News Regarding The Leaked Calls To Russia – German Army Captain Admits Spying for Russia

The officer, who has links to the far-right AfD party, said he sent material to a Russian intelligence service out of concern of a nuclear escalation in Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine. On Monday, a member of Germany’s Bundeswehr was tried in the western city of Düsseldorf on charges of spying for Russia and leaking state secrets.

At the opening of the trial, the defendant acknowledged to spying for Russia. He stated that his activities were motivated by a concern of a nuclear escalation during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The cop was detained on August 9 of last year, and the charges were made public on March 19.

The defendant is accused of making frequent and unsolicited offers of cooperation at Russia’s consulate in Bonn and embassy in Berlin beginning in May 2023.

During these sessions, he reportedly disclosed critical information.

According to authorities, he also photographed obsolete training manuals on weapons systems and aviation technology and deposited the materials in the letterbox of the Russian consulate in Bonn.

Prosecutors claim there is no proof of his accepting money.

The 54-year-old guy said that the claims against him were “broadly” correct.

He contacted the Russian embassy after seeing something “presumably on TikTok”. He claimed to have followed a pro-Russian influencer linked with the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) on TikTok, but was unsure of the content.

According to his narrative, he was anxious for his family’s safety in the case of a nuclear strike. The officer stated that he contacted Russian officials to obtain information on “when it was going to go off.”

“I only saw this way,” he said to the court.

The cop later said that he regretted his conduct and was in a low mental condition at the time.

The captain formerly worked at the Bundeswehr’s equipment, technology, and in-service support facility in Koblenz.

The institution is in charge of supplying Germany’s military forces, as well as designing, testing, and acquiring new equipment and technology.

Around the same time as his cooperation with Russian officials, he registered for membership in the AfD. The court stated his application was approved in July 2023.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had a significant and conflicting influence on Germany and its military forces.

It spurred the most serious endeavor in years to increase defense budget and military readiness, following similar initiatives by past governments that produced few results.

However, it shed new insight on the army’s recruiting, procurement, and readiness issues.

The topic of whatever weapons Germany may send to help Ukraine quickly became the focus of domestic and international attention.

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