Germany faces a direct and comprehensive threat from Russia as Berlin navigates an undeclared shadow war involving sabotage, potential low-level border actions, and cyber threats, according to intelligence chiefs who briefed lawmakers on October 5.
Germany risks being pulled into a violent confrontation with Moscow amid an escalating campaign of covert hostilities, the head of the foreign intelligence service warned during a parliamentary hearing. Martin Jaeger, leader of the foreign intelligence service, known as the BND, addressed the Parliamentary Control Committee on October 5, describing an undeclared conflict that defies conventional military and judicial definitions. The German intelligence services updated the parliament on Monday morning regarding the Russian threat.
BND Chief Martin Jaeger Warns of Shadow War and Direct Threats to Germany
The BND assessment outlines a severe security landscape characterized by reckless intelligence operations and persistent sabotage attempts in a Parliamentary Control Committee hearing on Oct. 5. During the public hearing, Jaeger stated that no other country currently poses such a direct, comprehensive, and concrete threat to Germany, adding that Russia is waging a shadow war against them.
Martin Jaeger, head of the foreign intelligence service (BND),
The BND expects further physical disruptions targeting defense production and logistics. Ook kinetisch, ook bij ons,
Jaeger noted, distinguishing physical sabotage from cyber operations by emphasizing that kinetic attacks now reach domestic soil.
Intelligence Agencies Flag Sabotage Risks and Baltic Border Concerns
Jaeger specifically warned that Moscow might deploy false-flag operations or unmarked personnel akin to green little men against Baltic NATO members to expand its reach without claiming direct responsibility, noting Russia used such soldiers without identification marks previously to take over parts of Ukraine without having to take immediate responsibility for it.
Other security leaders echoed these concerns during the parliamentary briefing. Sinan Selen, head of the internal federal intelligence service, or BfV, confirmed that Russia maintains both the capability and the intent to execute targeted sabotage and assassinations. In response to these multi-layered threats, the chiefs of all three agencies pressed for legislative reforms that would grant their organizations more offensive capabilities to counter cyber threats and disrupt hostile weapons programs.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz Visits Kyiv Amid Warnings of a Dangerous Winter
The security warnings coincide with high-level diplomatic outreach as German leadership maintains firm backing for Ukraine.
Jaeger cautioned that Ukraine and its supporters face attacks with a severity and brutality that we have not generally seen until now
as Russia systematically seeks to choke off Western weapons manufacturing and delivery networks wherever possible.