A Moldovan man was arrested in Germany on suspicion of espionage
A 37-year-old Moldovan citizen has been taken into custody in Germany on suspicion of using a drone to gather information near a defense industry facility.
According to investigators, on the evening of July 16, a drone appeared over the grounds of a German defense facility, the name of which law enforcement officials have not disclosed. Following reports from local residents, police detained the suspected drone operator near the scene that same evening.
Investigators believe the man used the drone to film facilities of significance to Germany’s national defense.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the suspect intended to pass the collected material on to a foreign entity or a banned organization. The Moldovan citizen is currently in custody in Bavaria.
This was reported by Spiegel.
As a reminder, the German company Helsing SE has launched mass production of the latest AI-powered strike drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The drones are being assembled in series at a secret factory in one of the industrial regions in southern Germany. The facility operates under heavy security, has no signage, and, in the event of a threat, the entire production line can be dismantled and moved to a new location in just one day.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to expel two military attachés from the Russian Embassy in Rome. According to Italian officials, the diplomats are believed to be involved in espionage activities on behalf of Moscow.
