Top German intelligence officers claimed that Russia may be capable to assault NATO by 2030 and is boosting its efforts to hinder Ukraine’s supporters by way of sabotage.
Germany is Ukraine’s second greatest navy backer after the United States.
“In terms of personnel and material, Russian armed forces are likely to be capable of carrying out an attack against NATO by the end of the decade at the latest,” BND international intelligence chief Bruno Kahl advised parliament.
A direct confrontation between Moscow and the U.S.-led navy alliance was “becoming an option for Russia”, Kahl stated.
Kahl spoke at a listening to within the Bundestag alongside the heads of Germany’s home and navy intelligence, who took turns to warn of the rising risk from Russia within the context of the invasion of Ukraine.
“Russian espionage and sabotage in Germany are increasing, both qualitatively and quantitatively,” home intelligence chief Thomas Haldenwang stated.
He listed suspected sabotage actions, together with a close to miss involving an exploding package deal and a DHL cargo aircraft.
The parcel burst into flames on the bottom earlier than being loaded into the aircraft, which Haldenwang referred to as a “lucky accident,” with out explicitly naming the suspected culprits.
“If it had exploded onboard during the flight, there would have been a crash and the debris could have hit all the people here in Germany who, openly or secretly, sympathize with Putin,” he stated.
Russia was additionally engaged in disinformation campaigns, had deployed drones to spy on delicate places and was trying to recruit folks, together with from the world of organized crime, with gives of cash, Haldenwang stated.
There had additionally been a “significant increase” in espionage and sabotage actions from Russia concentrating on the German armed forces, the pinnacle of navy intelligence Martina Rosenberg stated.
Among the actions undertaken by Russia have been “reconnaissance of German arms deliveries to Ukraine” in addition to surveillance of navy coaching and armaments tasks, she stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com