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German Cybersecurity Chief Investigated over Russia Ties

In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)
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German Cybersecurity Chief Investigated over Russia Ties

In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)
In this file photo taken on October 20, 2020 in Berlin, Arne Schoenbohm, President of the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) presents the Report on the State of IT Security in Germany. (AFP)

The head of Germany's national cybersecurity agency is under scrutiny over reports of ties to Russian intelligence, officials said Monday

Arne Schoenbohm, who heads the BSI agency, co-founded a cybersecurity group a decade ago that brings together experts from public institutions and the private sector. German media reported that one of its members is a company founded by a former Russian intelligence agent.

“The Interior Ministry takes the matters reported over the weekend seriously and is investigating them comprehensively,” the ministry said in a statement.

There is growing concern in Germany that the country's critical infrastructure might be targeted by Russia because of Berlin's support for Ukraine. On Saturday, an apparent act of sabotage forced German rail company Deutsche Bahn to halt passenger and cargo trains across the northwest of the country for nearly three hours.

After the nearly three-hour suspension, Deutsche Bahn said the problem — a “failure of the digital train radio system” — had been resolved but that some disruptions could still be expected. It later said the outage was caused by sabotage.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing said cables that are “essential for handling railway traffic safely” were deliberately severed at two separate locations. He said Germany’s federal police were investigating the incident.

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World

Half of Ukraine’s Capital in the Dark After Russian Strikes, Ministry Says

People use a flashlight as they walk during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by recent a Russian missile and drone attacks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 8, 2025. (Reuters)
People use a flashlight as they walk during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by recent a Russian missile and drone attacks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 8, 2025. (Reuters)
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Half of Ukraine’s Capital in the Dark After Russian Strikes, Ministry Says

People use a flashlight as they walk during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by recent a Russian missile and drone attacks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 8, 2025. (Reuters)
People use a flashlight as they walk during a power blackout after critical civil infrastructure was hit by recent a Russian missile and drone attacks, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 8, 2025. (Reuters)

Power was out for roughly half of residents in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Tuesday after the latest Russian attacks on the country's energy system, the energy ministry said.

"The situation in Kyiv remains one of the most difficult – currently, up to 50% of consumers in the capital are without electricity," the ministry said on Telegram.

Russia has sharply increased both the number and intensity of attacks on Ukrainian gas and energy infrastructure in recent months, targeting both power generation facilities and electricity transmission systems.

Ukraine operates three nuclear power plants, which produce more than 50% of all electricity, but the plants are forced to reduce production due to damage to power lines.

The energy shortage is forcing power grid operator Ukrenergo to restrict supplies to consumers, plunging entire regions into darkness. Power cuts also affect heat and water supplies.

Residents of Kyiv and the Kyiv region have been getting electricity for only about 10 hours out of 24 over the past week.

World

Germany Plans Production of Advanced Taurus Missiles from 2029

A man pauses on a pedestrian bridge as a German flag flies over the Reichstag building in Berlin on October 23, 2024. (AFP)
A man pauses on a pedestrian bridge as a German flag flies over the Reichstag building in Berlin on October 23, 2024. (AFP)
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Germany Plans Production of Advanced Taurus Missiles from 2029

A man pauses on a pedestrian bridge as a German flag flies over the Reichstag building in Berlin on October 23, 2024. (AFP)
A man pauses on a pedestrian bridge as a German flag flies over the Reichstag building in Berlin on October 23, 2024. (AFP)

Germany plans to begin production of an upgraded version of its Taurus cruise missile in 2029, according to a budget proposal seen by Reuters on Tuesday, which is expected to be approved by parliament next week.

German forces currently have some 600 Taurus missiles with an official range of more than 500 km (311 miles) in their inventories, to be launched from fighter jets such as the Tornado, the F-15 or the F-18.

The weapon, built by European defence company MBDA , is designed to destroy high-value targets behind enemy lines such as command bunkers, ammunition and fuel dumps, airfields and bridges.

The German government has repeatedly denied requests by Ukraine to supply it with Taurus cruise missiles amid concerns over their long range and their potential use against targets inside Russia, according to Reuters.

The upgraded Taurus NEO missile, as outlined in the 415-million-euro ($483 million) budget proposal which is classified as confidential, will feature an extended range, improved shielding against interference, and advancements in navigation and seeker head technology.

Sweden's Saab and US-based Williams International are identified as the main subcontractors for the enhanced missile.

At a later stage, Sweden and Spain may join the contract, the document said.

According to previous information, Germany aims to purchase some 600 Taurus NEO for around 2 billion euros in total.

The Kremlin has told Germany that delivering cruise missiles to Kyiv would lead to a further round of "spiralling tension" in the Ukraine conflict.

World

Putin Does Not Want to Restore the USSR or Attack NATO, the Kremlin Says 

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his meeting with members of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 8, 2025. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his meeting with members of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 8, 2025. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)
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Putin Does Not Want to Restore the USSR or Attack NATO, the Kremlin Says 

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his meeting with members of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 8, 2025. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his meeting with members of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Parliamentary Assembly at the Senate Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 8, 2025. (Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters)

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that European claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to restore the Soviet Union were wrong and that claims Putin plans to invade a NATO member were complete stupidity.

Putin, who was born in the Soviet Union, in 2005 cast the collapse of the Soviet Union as the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century because tens of millions of Russians were impoverished and Russia itself faced the threat of disintegration.

Opponents say Putin's Russia is decaying in a potent brew of absurdity and repression that is comparable to the Leonid Brezhnev-era of the Soviet Union. Western leaders say that Putin, if he wins in Ukraine, will one day attack NATO.

Putin has repeatedly denied that he has any plans to attack NATO and has said that such a step would be foolish for Russia given the conventional military superiority of NATO over Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Putin wanted to bring the "old Soviet Union" back and that Europe had to defend itself against what he said were clear Russian intentions, set out, he said, in Russian state doctrines, to attack NATO.

"This is not true," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Merz's remarks. "Vladimir Putin does not want to restore the USSR because it is impossible, and he himself has repeatedly said this."

"To talk about it is not respectful to our partners," Peskov said. "Apparently, Mr. Merz does not know this."

"As for preparing for an attack on NATO, this is complete stupidity," Peskov said.