Lawmakers from Germany’s pro-Russian far-right party AfD are facing accusations of gathering sensitive data that may benefit Russian or Chinese interests, according to Der Spiegel, with officials citing close ties to both countries. The accusations focus on the party’s series of unusually detailed and patterned parliamentary requests into Bundeswehr capabilities and infrastructure.

Bundestag clash over espionage allegations

Der Spiegel reported that in the German Parliament—Bundestag—the ruling coalition's parties have demanded explanations from AfD lawmakers following what they describe as disturbing intelligence-gathering behavior masked as routine oversight. CDU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn confronted AfD chair Alice Weidel with the claim that the sus[picion of “working as elected representatives on behalf of hostile powers in Parliament is among the gravest that can exist.” Spahn warned that Weidel’s silence could make her “at least complicit in potential treason.”

SPD and CDU legislators called for an emergency debate to address the “effects of AfD’s relations with Russia on Germany’s security interests.”

Thomas Röwekamp, head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, told Der Spiegel that AfD lawmakers had submitted “a large number of systematically structured and very detailed inquiries into military capabilities and gaps.” Röwekamp stressed that the content and frequency of these requests went far beyond standard parliamentary interest and instead appeared “targeted and grid-like” in their collection of militarily sensitive information.

AfD’s questions raise red flags in defense circles

Some of the inquiries submitted by AfD MPs included precise questions about drone defense, military logistics, Bundeswehr procurement schedules, and even gaps in cybersecurity at various ministries.

According to Der Spiegel, one parliamentary request asked the Interior Ministry to detail how many data centers it operates and how many of them have long-term emergency power supplies. Other requests focused on the cyber-readiness of the Digital, Transport, Finance, and Defense Ministries.

High-ranking military officials and leadership in the Defense Ministry are alarmed. According to Der Spiegel, multiple ministries came to the same conclusion: the nature of AfD’s questions suggests intentional efforts to identify structural weaknesses. Some government analysts believe the questions reflect coordination, possibly based on requests from abroad, targeting both current defense capabilities and planned upgrades.

Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier warned that AfD appeared to be “working through a task list from the Kremlin,” and said the party had long been misusing parliamentary tools to probe critical infrastructure. Röwekamp echoed this assessment, linking the inquiries to what he called “hybrid attacks against Germany,” likely meant to support Russian strategic goals.

“We have long known that there are demonstrably close connections between the AfD and Russia and China," Maier told Der Spiegel.

Der Spiegel recalled a 2021 case it had previously uncovered, in which a Chinese Ministry of State Security agent bragged about using contacts to launch a Bundestag inquiry on Hong Kong through AfD lawmaker Stefan Keuter, who denied any cooperation with Chinese intelligence.

On 3 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that missile production is progressing well, with mass production of several systems expected to be completed by the end of the year. He also mentioned the deployment of new missile models and the expansion of production capacities, particularly for interceptor drones and maritime unmanned vehicles, UNIAN reports. 

Tools of response and strategic pressure

“We are deploying new missiles, including the ‘Flamingo,’” Zelenskyy said.

He did not specify quantities but has noted that the country expects mass production by year-end. He also emphasized the “Neptune” series, already in production and delivering strong results.

“We have standard and extended versions, both performing very well," he explained. 

According to Zelenskyy, these systems are effective against energy infrastructure strikes, targeting resources that fund the aggressor.

Scaling production: 600–800 interceptor drones Per Day

Ukraine is also accelerating production of interceptor UAVs, aiming to reach 600–800 units per day by the end of November, “if all goes according to plan.”

Zelenskyy acknowledged potential setbacks, such as attacks on factories or damage to workshops, but stressed that “so far we have not lost any type of long-range weapon.”

The industry is working alongside the military, with repair teams and logistics restoring production capacity even after strikes.

Berlin and Copenhagen as first hubs of weapon exports

Zelenskyy announced the creation of two European export hubs: “These are for weapons we can afford to sell. The first two will be Berlin and Copenhagen, decided at the company level, and operational this year.”

Revenue from exports will support domestic production of scarce systems. Ukraine also has a surplus of maritime drones and certain artillery systems available for export, provided that proper safety and regulatory oversight are in place.

The Ukrainian president proposed a fair financial mechanism: partners could fully fund the production of scarce weapons in Ukraine, with the resulting systems to be split equally, a method to rapidly mobilize both partner and Ukrainian industrial capacity.