Man arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying on the defence industry for Russian intelligence

On 22 October 2026 Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor announced the arrest in Brandenburg of a Ukrainian national, named as Vadym Y. Prosecutors say that since at least July 2025 he had been in contact with a Russian intelligence service through an intermediary and used contacts in the European defence industry to gather information on the production of armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives, and on personnel and facilities securing NATO's eastern flank. Some of the information was publicly available.

Established by. Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor said the suspect worked for a Russian intelligence service, without naming it (as reported by Euronews and Kyiv Post, 22 Oct 2026). A court was to decide on pre-trial detention; the presumption of innocence applies.

Latest. Arrested on suspicion of espionage on 22 October 2026; no charges filed as of that date. The investigation continues, including into possible accomplices.

Link to the war against Ukraine. The information allegedly sought concerned defence production and NATO's eastern flank, which supply and protect Ukraine's supporters.