Der Spiegel: German intelligence believes Putin might use nuclear weapons in Ukraine and organise political assassinations in Germany

Bruno Kahl, President of Germany’s Federal Intelligence service, Thomas Haldenwang, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and Martina Rosenberg, head of the Military Counterintelligence Service have informed the Bundestag, the country’s parliament, that Russia may use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and organise political assassinations in Germany, Der Spiegel reports.

Kahl and Haldenwang made the statements before the Bundestag, which meets publicly once a year to listen to assessments of the current situation from intelligence leaders.

Haldenwang said that “the Ukraine War had changed the rules of the game” in all domains of the country’s politics and bears direct menace to Germany’s internal security. He also added that 40 Russian spies were deported from Germany in April, but there are many more left.

Russia’s secretive agencies have received “a higher clearance level” of operations in Germany, he says. Haldenwang’s agency believes that Russia’s agents night organise political assassinations in Germany.

Kahl warned the Bundestag that Putin may use “sub strategic nuclear weapons” in Ukraine and then force Ukraine to sign a peace treaty on unfavourable conditions. There are no signs that the Russian side may agree on a compromise solution, he says.

He also added that his statements were only guesswork: his agency has no proof that Russia is going to use nuclear weapons, Der Spiegel says.