Prosecutors in Germany have charged a German-Ukrainian woman with assisting Russian intelligence, according to a statement released by Germany’s federal prosecutor’s office on Monday. The woman, identified only as Ilona W. to protect her privacy under German law, is accused of working with a Russian intelligence officer stationed at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Prosecutors claim she has been in contact with the officer since at least October 2023. Ilona W. was the owner of a marketing agency in Berlin and also served as chairwoman of a lobbying group. These roles gave her access to a wide network of people in both military and political circles, according to the prosecutors. Over several years, she allegedly provided the Russian intelligence officer with information about high-profile events and helped him attend them, sometimes using a false name. This, prosecutors said, was intended to help the officer build a network for intelligence purposes. In addition to providing information, Ilona W. is also accused of attending these events herself to identify potential contacts and targets. Prosecutors allege she attempted to recruit individuals from Germany’s Ministry of Defense and the defense industry for her own purposes. She reportedly sought information on German defense policy and the defense industry, particularly in relation to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Ilona W. was arrested in January 2024, and formal charges were filed on September 6. She is currently in pretrial detention while the case against her is being processed. The case highlights concerns about the potential influence of foreign intelligence operations within Germany’s political and defense sectors.