Russia-Ukraine war: Pro-Putin individuals in Germany sought to push pro-Moscow stance in Berlin

An investigation found several individuals that sought to influence the German government to turn against Ukraine and adopt a more pro-Russia stance. The revelations come as European support for Ukraine can potentially fracture should Berlin turn away.

A report by Reuters found several key individuals in Germany that sought to push a more pro-Russia stance in the country in an effort to influence Berlin to turn away from supporting Ukraine. The individuals were identified by the outlet as former Russian air force officers Rotislav Tesyuk and Andrei Kharkovsky. Tesyuk later changed his name to Max Schlund after settling in Germany, and Kharkovsky has pledged loyalty to a Cossack society that supports Moscow.

The outlet also found that some of those pushing for a more pro-Russia policy on the war in Berlin used aliases, have undisclosed ties to Russia and Russian entities that are under international sanctions, as well as far-right organizations.

German authorities linked one of the individuals identified by Reuters to a far-right ideology. The individual in question was accused of plotting to overthrow the German government and runs a German-language site, “Putin Fanclub,” and called for the storming of the German parliament.

Another individual identified by Reuters was a German construction company executive that used to serve as a Russian military intelligence officer, who is associated with three Russian men convicted by a Dutch court for helping supply the missile that shot down a Malaysian passenger plane over Ukraine in 2014. Another identified individual was a motorcycle enthusiast that often posted the alleged atrocities the Ukrainian military has committed on the ground, raising funds for a Russian biker gang that is currently under US and EU sanctions.

The German interior ministry said it was taking any attempts by foreign countries or individuals to exert influence in the policies concerning the war in Ukraine “very seriously.”

Russia’s defense ministry on Wednesday blamed the use of mobile phones by Russian troops as the reason for the major Ukrainian missile strike that killed dozens of Russian soldiers. The death toll was said to be 89, more than the previous count of 63 people dead. The major Ukrainian missile strike has drawn public outrage from Russian nationalists, who have increasingly criticized Russia’s efforts.