Ukrainian Accused of Hunting NATO Weapons Secrets for Russia

A Ukrainian citizen allegedly collected intelligence for Russia on weapons production and the military infrastructure defending NATO’s eastern flank. German investigators say his sources included people inside Europe’s arms industry.

Vadym Y., whose surname authorities withheld, was arrested in Brandenburg on October 22. A Federal Court of Justice investigating judge put his arrest warrant into effect the next day, according to the federal prosecutor’s announcement. That decision places him in pretrial detention; the espionage allegations remain unproved.

Prosecutors say he had been in touch with a Russian intelligence service through an intermediary since at least July 2025. The alleged collection covered armoured vehicles, ammunition, explosives and NATO-related personnel and facilities, Reuters reported. Some material came from public sources; other information was sought through defence-industry contacts.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that further cases were likely, AP reported. Neither the AP report nor the prosecutor’s detention announcement included a statement from the suspect or his lawyer.