A Scandinavian documentary series has raised concerns: a spy working for Russia could have stolen military-related material from car manufacturers.
Stockholm - Espionage is a big issue in the Ukraine war.
Sweden is now worried about what appears at first glance to be a purely economic coup by the Kremlin: A "Volvo spy" who has already been convicted has apparently passed on militarily relevant material to Russia, as reported by the TV station SVT.
This is evident, among other things, from mostly secret documents, it is said.
Putin spy receives data from Sweden: Russia's military could benefit
The focus is on a 45-year-old Swede.
He was arrested in 2019 in a restaurant in central Stockholm - together with the Russian diplomat Yevgeny Umerenko.
The Swedish secret service Säpo has now confirmed to the broadcaster that Umerenko also works for Russia's foreign intelligence service SVR.
He was able to leave the country thanks to his diplomatic immunity;
the 45-year-old received a three-year prison sentence.
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Data from Scandinavian car manufacturers could strengthen Russia's army under Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (left).
© Imago/Zoonar/Itar-Tass/fn
So far it was unclear which data the convict had passed on.
According to new Säpo information, it was about "sensitive material" from the truck manufacturer Scania to "self-propelled vehicles".
Counterintelligence chief Daniel Stenling admitted: "We can state that Russia is very interested in this and that it can strengthen both its domestic industry and its military potential." used militarily".
Russia's espionage worries Scandinavia - Scania case also has implications for VW
The case also has a dimension that is relevant for Germany: Scania has been part of the Volkswagen Group since 2015.
The convicted spy had poached at both Scania and Volvo's vehicle division.
A Scandinavian broadcast conglomerate - including SVT, Denmark's DR, Norway's NRK, Finland's Yle - is currently releasing a documentary series entitled "The Shadow War" about Russia's covert work in the Far North.
On Wednesday (April 19) it presented research on Russian "ghost ships" in the Baltic Sea.
Possible sabotage has worried Sweden's secret service for some time.
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