BND Chief Warns Germany Risks Conflict With Russia

BND President Martin Jaeger told the Bundestag Parliamentary Oversight Committee's once-a-year public hearing in Berlin that the confrontation with Russia has taken on a new, more dangerous quality: Germany is at risk of being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia. Coverage is dated October 5, 2026. Jaeger said Russia is waging a shadow war that cannot be described in traditional military or legal categories, that Russian intelligence operates highly professionally and ruthlessly, and that the threat of attacks on targets in Germany remains real and current. He said no other country poses such a direct, comprehensive, and concrete threat; Germany did not seek the confrontation, which Russia is imposing because Berlin does not accept Russia's revisionist, expansionist policy and its war against Ukraine. He said Moscow aims to ensure political decisions against it are not made in Berlin or other European capitals. BfV President Sinan Selen said Russia shows willingness to engage in sabotage and murder and cited the early-August discovery of an explosives-laden drone near Ukrainian cargo planes at Halle/Leipzig Airport; he said some successes have been achieved in countering the threats. Martina Rosenberg of the MAD also appeared. Jaeger reported no signs of a large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory and said limited-scale military action is possible, particularly in the Baltic states. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government has proposed a bill, not yet debated by the Bundestag, to expand BfV and BND powers, including operational duties such as stopping cyberattacks or sabotage of defense projects. The wire summary notes Russia denies intending to attack.