German Businesswoman Charged with Espionage for Russia
Ilona W., a 57-year-old dual citizen of Germany and Ukraine, has been charged with espionage for Russia by German federal prosecutors. She is accused of providing sensitive information to a Russian intelligence officer at the embassy in Berlin.
Sources
German federal prosecutors have charged a 57-year-old businesswoman, Ilona W., with espionage for Russia, alleging she provided information to a Russian intelligence officer based at the embassy in Berlin since at least October 2023. Ilona W., who holds German and Ukrainian citizenship, is accused of using her marketing agency and lobbying association to establish connections in military and political circles and to recruit individuals from Germany's Defense Ministry. Following her arrest on January 21, Germany expelled the Russian intelligence officer involved, which led to a retaliatory expulsion of a German diplomat by Moscow.
German federal prosecutors have charged 57-year-old Ilona W., a dual German and Ukrainian citizen, with espionage for Russia. Arrested on January 21, she allegedly provided information and facilitated access to high-profile events for a Russian intelligence officer from at least October 2023, leveraging her position as the head of a marketing agency and lobbying association in Berlin. The indictment claims that her actions aimed to help the intelligence officer develop his own network for espionage activities.