Germany summons Russian ambassador after Moscow brands defense firms as potential targets

Germany summoned Russia’s ambassador on Monday after Moscow published a list of European defense companies it claimed were involved in Ukrainian drone production and described them as potential military targets.

The German Foreign Ministry said Russia’s move amounted to direct threats aimed at weakening Berlin’s support for Ukraine and testing European unity.

“Direct threats from Russia against targets in Germany are an attempt to weaken our support for Ukraine and to test our unity,” the ministry said in a statement posted on social media. “Our response is clear: We will not be intimidated. Such threats and all forms of espionage in Germany are completely unacceptable.”

The ministry said it had summoned the Russian ambassador that day.

Russia’s Defense Ministry released the list last week, identifying several defense firms across Europe that it alleged were tied to Ukrainian drone production. Three of the companies are based in Germany.

In the document, Moscow described the companies’ home countries as part of Ukraine’s “strategic rear” — language that German media interpreted as an implicit justification for possible military strikes or covert operations against them.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, escalated the rhetoric by calling the list “a list of potential targets” for the Russian armed forces, according to local media reports.