German spy who passed data on Ukrainian Armed Forces tactics and losses to Russia is on trial in Berlin
Kyiv • UNN
A Bundeswehr colonel is on trial in Berlin for passing classified data from the Ukrainian Armed Forces to Russia; he faces life in prison. The colonel was arrested for transferring classified files and continues to communicate from prison.
A Berlin court has held the first hearing in the trial of a 52-year-old Bundeswehr colonel accused of passing classified information about the tactics and losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the Russian Federal Security Service, UNN reports citing BILD.
Details
It is reported that the convicted man, Karsten, headed the security department of the German Federal Intelligence Service. He is accused of high treason and disclosure of state secrets.
Together with him, 32-year-old diamond trader Arthur is on trial. They face life sentences. The case also involves a Russian businessman who is a fugitive from justice. According to the investigation, he persuaded Karsten and the trader Arthur - and he cooperated with the Russian Federal Security Service.
In October 2022, the colonel pretended to remove four files from his work computer with classified data on the tactics and losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the course of the war in Ukraine, as well as on covert operations. Carsten L. printed or photographed them from the monitor and handed them over to Arthur. He flew to Moscow and handed them over to two FSB agents.
In turn, they gave Arthur three smartphones with encrypted communication for Karsten to transmit new data, as well as 12 new questions of interest to Russia about Ukraine, including weapons and tactics of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Addendum
Karsten was arrested in December 2022. Investigators believe that from a Berlin prison he sent a message to Arthur, who was arrested in the United States.
