Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has published an analysis warning of a significant increase in Russia’s attempts to acquire high-tech goods and technologies suitable for military use in Germany. According to counterintelligence, the aggressive war against Ukraine has sharply increased Moscow’s demand for such products, despite strict EU sanctions.
The 46-page BfV document emphasizes that Russian actors are actively trying to circumvent export restrictions by using hidden networks, front companies, and even involving intelligence services. Of particular interest are high-tech areas: machine tools, microelectronics, and other components necessary for weapons production. “The war of aggression against Ukraine has increased Russia’s need for weapons and proliferation-relevant products,” the report notes.
The Verfassungsschutz cites examples of court cases, including a trial in Frankfurt am Main involving a citizen of Russian-Kyrgyz origin who supplied marine goods for military purposes to Russia through an international network of companies.
Similar procurement methods are used by China, Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan, but Russia stands out for the intensity of its efforts in the German market. As a leading industrial power with a strong scientific base, Germany remains a priority target for such operations.
BfV experts emphasize that despite the sanctions imposed since 2022, Russia is finding new ways to circumvent controls, often acting covertly. This poses serious risks to national security and requires increased protective measures on the part of companies, universities, and research institutes.
The agency calls for vigilance: “Protecting research and development is key to Germany’s security.” Similar warnings are coming from other European services, which are recording an increase in Russian intelligence activity on the continent.