Germany summons Russian ambassador citing ‘direct threats’

Berlin has summoned the Russian ambassador to condemn what it calls “direct threats” against “targets in Germany”.

The threats, which were not detailed, are aimed at undermining Germany’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, Berlin’s Federal Foreign Office said in a statement on Monday.

list of 3 items

list 1 of 3‘Sent to be killed’: How Russia forces migrants to fight in Ukraine
list 2 of 3Can Hungary wean itself off Russian energy, as its new leader has promised?
list 3 of 3Russia suffers ‘record’ soldier casualties as Ukraine ups drone production

end of list

“Our response is clear: we will not be intimidated. Such threats and all forms of espionage in Germany are completely unacceptable,” the foreign ministry said in a social media post.

The Russian embassy provided no comment.

Last week, Russia’s Ministry of Defence published a list of 21 companies that Moscow believes are subsidiaries of Ukrainian defence companies or suppliers of key components.

At least three German firms were among those listed as supplying drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Ukraine. The post included a vague suggestion that those locations could be targeted.

“The European public should not only clearly understand the underlying causes of the threats to their safety, but also know the addresses, as well as the location of ‘Ukrainian’ and ‘joint’ companies producing UAVs and their components for Ukraine in their countries,” the Russian ministry wrote on Wednesday.

Ukraine and Germany recently agreed on a strategic defence partnership that will include cooperation in drone production and a boost for Kyiv’s air defences.

In a joint declaration, the two countries said they will “strengthen cooperation in the air defence field”. Germany will “continue supporting Ukraine’s drone industry as well as establishing drone co-production ventures”, it added.

On Monday, Russian authorities arrested a German woman accused of being part of an alleged Ukrainian-backed plot to blow up a services facility.

Russia’s Federal Security Service said the woman was arrested in the Caucasus city of Pyatigorsk with an explosive device in her backpack.

A German foreign ministry spokesman said it was aware of news reports about the arrest but would not comment further out of privacy concerns.