BERLIN: German intelligence chiefs warned on Monday that Russia could be capable of launching an attack against NATO by 2030 and is ramping up efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s Western backers through sabotage.
Bruno Kahl, the foreign intelligence chief of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), informed parliament that, “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.”
He further said that a direct confrontation between Moscow and the US-led military alliance is “becoming an option for Russia.”
Kahl’s statements were echoed during a hearing in the Bundestag, where he and other intelligence leaders detailed the growing threats posed by Russia in light of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Domestic intelligence chief Thomas Haldenwang highlighted an increase in Russian espionage and sabotage activities within Germany, both in scale and complexity.
Haldenwang cited several concerning incidents, including a recent near-miss involving an exploding package and a DHL cargo plane. The package caught fire on the ground before being loaded onto the plane, a situation Haldenwang described as a “lucky accident.”
He refrained from naming any suspected culprits but emphasized the potential dangers, stating, “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, sympathise with Putin.”
The intelligence chief also reported a rise in Russian disinformation campaigns, the deployment of drones to spy on sensitive locations, and efforts to recruit people, including those connected to organized crime, with monetary incentives.
Martina Rosenberg, head of military intelligence, noted a “significant increase” in espionage and sabotage activities targeting the German armed forces. She elaborated on Russian reconnaissance efforts, which include surveillance of German arms deliveries to Ukraine and monitoring military training and armament projects.
