Putin’s mercenaries from Germany

In October 2025, they were sentenced to prison terms and suspended sentences. In the case of the main defendant, the Federal Prosecutor General was convinced of his “abysmal hatred of Ukraine.” Through his combat activities, he was found guilty of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state, the court ruled. He is also accused of spying for Russia. Together with his two co-defendants, he is alleged to have reconnoitered military facilities in Germany until April 2024 and, among other things, planned arson attacks and acts of sabotage against military infrastructure and important railway lines.

More than 800 German citizens are fighting as mercenaries for Russia in Ukraine. An underestimated threat? There are numerous examples of Russia’s hybrid warfare against Germany and Europe.

What are German security authorities focusing on after various acts of sabotage, such as the 2024 attacks on DHL cargo aircraft? The activities of Russia’s intelligence services have reached an alarming scale. German investigative journalists are also becoming targets of Putin’s henchmen because of their work on this threat.


PARTICIPANTS

• Markus Thöß, TV journalist
  
• Florian Flade, intelligence expert
  

MODERATED BY

• Prof. Dr. Bodo V. Hechelhammer, BND
  

IN GERMAN