GERMAN-UKRAINIAN BUSINESSWOMAN CHARGED WITH AIDING RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE
September 15, 2026
German federal prosecutors have charged a 57-year-old Berlin businesswoman with allegedly assisting a Russian intelligence officer operating under diplomatic cover at Russia’s embassy.
The suspect, officially identified as Ilona W. under German privacy rules, holds German and Ukrainian citizenship. She has remained in pretrial custody since her arrest in January.
Prosecutors allege that she maintained contact with the Russian officer from at least October 2023. Through her marketing agency and leadership of a lobbying association, she reportedly developed extensive access to German political, military and industrial circles.
Investigators accuse her of passing information about high-level events to the officer and helping him attend some gatherings under false identities. This allegedly allowed him to approach potential contacts and construct an intelligence network inside Germany.
She is also accused of seeking connections within the German Defense Ministry and defense industry to obtain information related to German defense policy, military production and assistance for Ukraine.
Germany expelled the Russian officer connected to the case shortly after Ilona W.’s arrest. Moscow retaliated by expelling a German diplomat.
Her Ukrainian citizenship does not indicate involvement by Ukraine. The allegations concern assistance provided to Russian intelligence—another example of Moscow attempting to exploit business, lobbying and diplomatic networks to penetrate the institutions supporting Ukraine.