Western systems such as HIMARS or IRIS-T are particularly difficult for the Russian troops in Ukraine. According to a report, the FSB secret service therefore commissioned a BND employee to obtain location data. He now has to answer for treason.
The case of a suspected spy at the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) is more explosive than previously known. According to “Spiegel” information, the Russian secret service FSB tried last fall to obtain position data of artillery and air defense positions of the Ukrainian army via the BND employee Carsten L., who has since been arrested.
According to the investigation, the FSB instructed the BND agent, through the intermediary Arthur E., to siphon off and hand over GPS data from the BND that was as accurate as possible for the HIMARS multiple rocket launchers supplied by the USA and the IRIS-T air defense system supplied by Berlin. People familiar with the case say it’s unlikely such data was leaked. In the fall, the Ukrainian army managed to gain spectacular ground – also thanks to the rocket launchers.
Attorney General Peter Frank is investigating L. and E. on suspicion of treason. Both are in custody. E. is said to have handed over secret BND material to the FSB at two meetings in Moscow, which L. had obtained from his employer. The Russian side may have rewarded the alleged espionage handsomely. The investigators found a six-digit sum of cash in envelopes in Carsten L.’s locker. E. is said to have received these envelopes from the FSB and handed them over to L. The BND assumes that the FSB wanted to retain L. in the long term.
L.’s defense attorney Marvin Schroth did not want to comment on the request of “Spiegel”, E.’s lawyer left a request unanswered. Federal prosecutors and the BND declined to comment.
