In light of recent suspected Russian intelligence attacks in Germany, security expert Konstantinos Tsetsos from the Munich University of the Bundeswehr is warning about a potential influx of what he calls disposable agents. Speaking to RTL and “Stern,” he stated that there are several thousands of active and willing disposable agents across Europe.
These disposable agents are amateur spies who do not hold official agent training. Often, they are low-level criminals who are recruited online for small sums of money. According to Tsetsos, Russia primarily employs them for three objectives: surveillance of individuals or locations, carrying out acts of sabotage such as arson, and spreading disinformation designed to discredit German politics and the Federal Government.
Recently, the context of this warning has become relevant following the situation involving the drone incident on August 4th at Leipzig/Halle airport. Both Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) held Russia responsible for the event. Furthermore, Dobrindt suggested that the execution of the apparently planned attack points toward actors from the “low-level agent” sphere. The General Public Prosecutor’s Office also believes that disposable agents were involved in the preparation of the alleged murder plot against German arms manager Stefan Thumann, CEO of Donaustahl.
Tsetsos is a political scientist at the Munich University of the Bundeswehr. His work focuses on future studies concerning security policy, and he advises the Federal Ministry of Defense.
