Karsten L., a German intelligence service (BND) officer, attempted to communicate information about Ukrainian artillery and air defence positions to Russia’s FSB last autumn, Der Spiegel writes.
According to the investigation, the FSB instructed the BND agent to hand over accurate GPS data about the HIMARS and IRIS-T missile launcher locations in Ukraine via middleman Artur E. It is unlikely that the information was disclosed, the newspaper claims.
Karsten L. and Artur E. are suspected of treason and are in custody. German Public Prosecutor General Peter Frank is investigating the case.
According to Der Spiegel, Karsten L. was arrested in December, while his believed accomplice Artur E., who is reported to have handed over the classified BND information to the FSB at two meetings in Moscow, was detained in Munich Airport in January.
The police discovered “a six-figure amount in cash” when arresting Karsten L. Artur E. is believed to have received money envelopes from the FSB.
In October, Germany supplied the first IRIS-T air defence missile systems to Ukraine out of four pledged ones. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the IRIS-T supplies in July, noting that this is the most advanced missile system that Germany uses. HIMARS are supplied by the US.
