Ukrainian national charged with spying for Russia in Germany

Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office has announced charges of spying for Russia against a 57-year-old businesswoman from Berlin, who holds both German and Ukrainian citizenship and has already been in custody for more than six months.

As reported by DW, according to the charges, the woman used her connections in political and military circles to help a Russian intelligence officer obtain information about Germany's defence policy.

The woman was detained back on 22 January and has remained in custody since then. Following this, Germany expelled a Russian embassy staffer on espionage charges. The Russian embassy called the accusations a "provocation".

In early August, a 33-year-old Ukrainian was arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying on a defence company.

Germany recently approved a reform of its intelligence services, under which they will be granted broader powers.