A former German army soldier accused of spying for Russia admitted to handing over information but claimed he did so to prevent further escalation in Ukraine during his trial in Düsseldorf. The 54-year-old man, identified only as Thomas to protect his privacy under German laws, worked in the IT and logistics service of the German army and confessed to passing information to the Russian consulate in Bonn.
The court hearings are just one of several cases of alleged spies uncovered in Germany since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite admitting his wrongdoing, Thomas stated that his intentions were aimed at preventing further escalation in Ukraine. This trial is one of several cases involving Russian espionage that have been uncovered in Germany since the beginning of the conflict.
According to the prosecution, the defendant photographed various computer files and weapons manuals, which he then transferred to a Russian intelligence service. He was apprehended in August 2023 in Koblenz, a central German city. The trial is expected to continue until June, and Thomas faces a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison.