Former Bundeswehr officer admitted in court to spying for Russia

A former captain of the Bundeswehr – the German army – admitted that he transferred secret military information to Russia. His trial is taking place in Düsseldorf. According to the serviceman, he himself offered his services to the Russian side because he hoped to help avoid an escalation of the war in Ukraine.

German press calls the name and initials of the accused are Thomas H. According to the prosecutor’s office, in 2023 he contacted the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and offered cooperation. Thomas H. Served with the rank of captain in the department that was responsible for purchasing weapons for the army. It annually concludes defense contracts worth billions of euros.

Prosecution assertsthat Thomas H. provided the Russian consulate with files with technical data and photographs of documents relating to ammunition and aircraft.

The military man himself is on trial admitted your guilt. He explained his actions by saying that he was afraid of the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, feared that the war would spread to German territory, and wanted to protect his family. He is a member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, known for its pro-Russian views, and was subscribed to the channels of German pro-Russian influencers on the Internet. Whether he received money from Russia for his services is not specified.

Thomas H. was arrested last August. After his arrest, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser announced tougher checks in government agencies.