Russia threatens retaliation over Germany’s spy claim, diplomat expulsion

Russia has confirmed Ambassador Sergey Nechayev’s invitation by the German Foreign Ministry over the detention of a woman suspected of spying, vowing to take responsive actions.

The Russian embassy called the espionage allegation “an absurd and hastily concocted provocation designed to discredit the Russian diplomatic mission.”

In a statement on Thursday, the mission accused Germany of escalating a “spy frenzy” by “using fanciful pretexts” in an attempt to portray Russia in a bad light.

“We expressed our regret that Germany has chosen to further escalate tensions in Russian-German relations,” it reads. “Berlin’s hostile actions will not go unanswered.”

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office on Wednesday detained a woman with dual German-Ukrainian citizenship on suspicion of espionage for Russia.

The suspect is accused of a liaison with the Russian special services, and allegedly sending information concerning the Ukraine conflict and political meetings in Germany.

Berlin has expelled Russia’s deputy military attache for alleged spy activity, and ordered the diplomatic officer to leave the country within 72 hours.

Meanwhile, Germany has accused Russia of war crimes in Ukraine after renewed attacks left many citizens without heating and electricity amid freezing winter weather.

“[President Vladimir] Putin is using the cold as a weapon,” deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said on Wednesday. “In our view, Putin’s Russia is committing war crimes here.”