Over the past year, the threat of sabotage and hybrid attacks in Germany has increased markedly. That assessment appears in the 2025 annual report of the Bundeswehr Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD). The service links a substantial share of suspicious sabotage cases to Russia with a high degree of probability, Der Spiegel reports.
According to MAD, Germany has become a priority target of Russian intelligence. The reasons cited are the country’s geostrategic position in Europe and NATO, the expansion of the Bundeswehr, and the introduction of new weapons systems. The hybrid threat has intensified, the service says, including cyberattacks, drone overflights, attempts at political influence, and disruptions to transport, energy, and communications.
The report separately notes a growing sabotage threat from so-called “low-level agents” — recruited operatives used for targeted actions. Comparative figures on such cases are not published, in order to avoid giving an adversary additional insight.
Among the tools of Russian intelligence, MAD cites “legal residencies” — covert outposts in embassies and semi-state representations — as well as affiliated structures, including news agencies. The service also flags risks tied to travel by service members to Russia and Belarus: despite the tense security situation, such trips continue, and personnel come to the attention of local intelligence services.
MAD still identifies Russia and China as the main sources of intelligence pressure on the Bundeswehr in 2025. The attacks, it says, are intended to sow uncertainty and weaken the armed forces’ readiness. At the same time, the service records an increase in extremism-related investigations inside the military.
