GSG-9 special forces. Photo: zbroya.info
In response to the growing threat of terrorism and espionage, the German Ministry of the Interior has decided to deploy an elite special forces unit GSG-9 to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. This was reported by informator.ua.
The GSG-9 maritime units will be based in Neustadt, a city on the Baltic Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein. This location was chosen because of the strategic importance of the region and the presence of the Federal Police Maritime Department, which will be responsible for coordinating and financing the operations.
According to ARD, the decision to establish the new base is a response to the growing risks to maritime infrastructure such as ports, oil terminals and submarine cables. Potential threats include both terrorist attacks and the use of ships for sabotage. The special forces base in Neustadt will ensure a quick response to incidents that may occur in northern Germany and allow for faster protection of key facilities.
GSG-9, which specialises in counter-terrorism operations, has long been known for its fight against Islamist and right-wing radical terrorist groups, as well as serious organised crime, including smuggling. GSG-9 will now aim to protect the country’s strategic infrastructure from new challenges.
Intensification of Russian espionage in Germany and Europe
The rise in tensions in the Baltic Sea coincides with new revelations of Russian spies in Germany and the EU. Since October 2022, numerous cases of espionage have been reported, including near the Wildflecken training ground where Ukrainian troops train. Russian agents used drones for surveillance, which led to an investigation.
In April 2023, Germany carried out a mass expulsion of Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. The German Foreign Ministry noted that the presence of Russian intelligence services in the country should be significantly reduced to ensure national security.
Similar cases are occurring in other European countries. In April 2024, Russian agents were found in the Czech Republic who had obtained Czech citizenship in the early 2000s under the guise of political emigrants. They were involved in a series of bombings and poisonings in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and other EU countries, acting in the interests of Russian special services.
