Berlin has formally accused Russia of orchestrating a series of sophisticated cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining democratic processes within Germany. A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, addressing reporters on Friday, asserted that irrefutable evidence now links Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency to the cyberattack on the Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) in August 2024. Further, Berlin believes Russia is definitively behind “Storm 1516” a campaign designed to disrupt the upcoming federal election through targeted disinformation.
The spokesperson emphasized a broader objective: to systematically erode public trust in Germany’s democratic institutions. This strategy reportedly involves deploying “deepfakes” and fabricating pseudo-journalistic content online to sow confusion and discord. “Russia is directly threatening our security” the spokesperson stated, adding that while the government possesses “completely hard evidence” substantiating these claims, full disclosure of the data is not possible at this stage.
In response to the newly obtained intelligence, reportedly gathered by German domestic intelligence agencies, the German government summoned Russia’s ambassador to Berlin. The move signals a significant escalation in relations between the two nations. Furthermore, Berlin announced that, in coordination with EU partners, it will introduce restrictions on Russian diplomats and related personnel starting in January 2026, including heightened scrutiny during border crossings within the Schengen Area.
While the government refrained from detailing the nature of the evidence it holds, the severity of the accusations has raised concerns within the German parliament and prompted renewed calls for increased cybersecurity measures and counter-disinformation strategies. Political analysts caution that the timing of these revelations, so close to the federal election, could further polarize the political landscape and complicate efforts to forge a consensus on national security policy. The move also risks triggering a retaliatory response from Moscow, potentially escalating tensions between Germany and Russia.
