Overview
- Germany attributes the August 2024 attack on its air-traffic control system to Russia’s GRU and the APT28/Fancy Bear group, citing “absolutely solid” evidence not disclosed to protect intelligence sources.
- Officials say the pro-Russian operation known as Storm 1516 sought to influence the February Bundestag election and continues to target German internal affairs.
- The Russian ambassador in Berlin was summoned, and Germany will back new EU listings imposing entry bans, asset freezes and restrictions on access to economic resources.
- From January, Russian diplomats’ cross-border movements in the Schengen area will be controlled, with additional bilateral restrictions on Russian diplomatic personnel planned.
- Berlin is accelerating defenses against hybrid threats, expanding counter-drone authorities and setting up an interministerial coordination platform as security chiefs warn of elevated risks ahead of 2026 regional elections.