German intelligence agencies have informed parliament about an escalation by the Kremlin, driven by Russian President Vladimir Putin's frustration with a lack of progress on the Ukrainian battlefield. The heads of German intelligence services confirmed a recent statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that Putin ordered his military and intelligence services to destroy Ukraine's economy and cripple its ability to defend itself this winter.

The heads of German intelligence services warned that Kremlin agents will act, despite possible civilian casualties, to undermine European support for Kyiv by striking infrastructure and transport networks, as well as military facilities and enterprises in EU countries. The head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Sinan Selen, stated that the transport and communication sector, the defense industry, and military infrastructure are in the crosshairs, and that arrests in Europe and Germany indicate that the possibility of causing significant damage is considered when choosing targets and methods of action. The head of the German foreign intelligence service (BND), Martin Jäger, stated that Russia sees Germany as its main adversary and that no other country poses such a direct, comprehensive, and concrete threat to Germany. Jäger also warned of a small but growing risk of Russian provocations leading to a full-scale conflict with NATO.