Germany's Federal Foreign Office said on Thursday it had summoned Russia's ambassador and informed him of the expulsion of a person accused of spying in Germany.

The expulsion comes after awoman was arrested on suspicion of supplying information related to the war in Ukraine.

What do we know about the expulsion?

In a statement posted on social media, the Foreign Office said the government did not tolerate espionage on German soil, "especially not under the cover of diplomatic status." It said the individual had been acting on behalf of Russia.

Separately, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the person concerned at the Russian Embassy had been declared persona non grata with immediate effect.

The expulsion was said to relate to the arrested suspected spy's handler, the embassy's deputy military attache.

What are the spying accusations?

The detained German-Ukrainian national was named by the  Federal Prosecutor General at the Federal Court of Justice as Ilona W., in accordance with German privacy rules. She was said to have been in contact with a man working for Russian intelligence at the Russian Embassy in Berlin since at least November 2023.

W. allegedly provided information about defense industry locations, drone tests and planned drone deliveries to Ukraine. 

On several occasions, she allegedly helped her contact at the embassy attend political events in Berlin under a false identity in order to establish contacts there. She is also suspected of having compiled background information on participants in high-level political events.

The suspected Russian spy is in pretrial detention following her arrest in Berlin on Wednesday.

The expulsion will not go unanswered, the Russian ‍Embassy said later on Thursday, claiming that Berlin "had ‍chosen to further ​escalate Russian-German relations, using clearly ⁠fabricated ​pretexts to do ‌so."

Could the net be cast wider?

Investigations are also underway against two former members of the Bundeswehr whom the suspected spy knew personally. They are suspected of having provided her with official information — although it is unclear whether they knew that this information was apparently intended for a foreign intelligence service.

According to the Defense Ministry, the individuals are a former military staff officer who recently retired and a senior civil servant who left the Bundeswehr more than 15 years ago.

The formal summoning of an ambassador is considered a sharp diplomatic measure by which the host government signals serious displeasure. The move adds to already strained relations between Berlin and Moscow amid heightened tensions over security and intelligence operations in Europe.

Edited by: Sean Sinico