The German prosecutor's office has brought charges against an alleged Russian spy. She faces 10 years in prison.
The investigation into Ilona V., suspected of espionage for Russia, has concluded, writes the German publication "Bild". Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office has charged the PR specialist of German-Ukrainian origin with "intelligence activity in the interests of" Russia's intelligence. The trial will take place in Berlin.
This case has caused a wide stir across Germany. Ilona V. was handcuffed in January in Berlin. Investigators accuse her of gathering information for the Russian GRU and establishing contacts in political and security circles.
Ilona V. not only approached Russian émigré communities but also centers of power in Germany. At a German-Ukrainian forum in December 2025, she managed to get within a few meters of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While they sat in the front row, Ilona V. took a seat directly behind them and filmed.
At that moment, German counterintelligence must have already had her in their sights for a long time.
According to the investigation, Ilona V. was already working for an officer of the Russian special services at the embassy in Berlin no later than October 2023. She informed him about high-level events and, in some cases, provided him with access to important meetings so that he could establish contacts in political circles himself. In addition, she contacted employees of the Ministry of Defense and obtained information about German industry.
According to "Bild" information, Ilona V. had a pass to the Bundestag, and she attended events of ministries, embassies, and political organizations. In photographs, she can be seen, in particular, on the roof of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ilona V. managed this partly because she was the chairwoman of the Federal Association of Binational Societies (BBG). Officially, the association advocates for international exchange and mutual understanding between peoples.
If the court confirms the charges, the suspected agent faces up to ten years in prison.
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