Germany must urgently expel remaining Russian diplomats and counter escalating cyber and hybrid threats from Moscow, according to senior CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter.

In an interview with Handelsblatt, Kiesewetter—vice chair of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee—warned of a “massive increase in state-sponsored cyberattacks” from Russia. He cited groups like Fancy Bear and Voodoo Bear, tied to Russia’s GRU, as leading the charge in espionage, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns targeting Germany.

“Russia has brought cyberwar to a new level in terms of complexity, volume, and efficiency,” he said.

Diplomatic Expulsions and Institutional Closures

Kiesewetter urged the expulsion of suspected Russian agents and diplomats still present in Germany. He also called for the closure of the Russian House in Berlin—an institution run by a Kremlin-linked agency under EU sanctions.

He accused it of operating as a propaganda and influence platform. “Such steps are overdue,” Kiesewetter asserted.

Gaps in Germany’s Cyber Defense

Kiesewetter lamented Germany’s weak legal and operational response to hybrid threats. Unlike France or Sweden, Germany lacks a disinformation early warning system or a central agency to counter foreign influence.

He proposed a state-run disinformation alert app and called for the urgent implementation of the EU’s NIS-2 cybersecurity directive and a “Kritis” law to mandate stronger protections for critical infrastructure.

Broader Threat Landscape: China, Iran, North Korea

Besides Russia, Kiesewetter identified China, Iran, and North Korea as rising cyber threats. He noted that China uses cyber intrusions to steal political and military secrets, while Iran and North Korea increasingly engage in cybercriminal activities.

To respond, Germany must boost its electronic warfare and drone defenses, enhance real-time surveillance of undersea infrastructure, and strip Chinese components from 5G networks.