Ukrainian troops seize Russian military equipment from the battlefield. Western special services, in particular the German BND, are interested in the latest Russian technologies, state television ARD reports.

The records are from September and come from the Kharkiv region. This is a trophy Russian tank and the images are of great interest. It is about the main battle tank T-90M, the most modern of those currently in the Moscow army.

Interesting trophies

The Russian army has already lost several tanks in the war against Ukraine, but this example is something special. Only a few years ago, this model was officially presented, and only a few dozen such tanks were in service.

The T-90M is a valuable trophy for Ukraine, as well as an interesting weapon for its Western allies. For NATO countries, the war in Ukraine is also an opportunity to obtain valuable information about Russia’s armaments.

According to Westdeutscher Rundfunk, (WDR), “the acquisition of foreign defense technology is one of the tasks of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND).” The service collects intelligence on enemy weapons systems, which is also done by purchasing, researching and testing foreign military equipment. “Findings must be provided to the Bundeswehr and ultimately to other NATO countries, and this is exactly what is happening in Ukraine.”

It is not surprising that the BND is looking for new, little-known Russian weapons systems in Ukraine. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, BND spies were busy obtaining Soviet military materials in war zones around the world.

With the help of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they purchased Russian military equipment for several months and investigated the damage from the battlefield in Germany. It is said that the first tests of armor and protective technologies, including ballistic tests, have already taken place with the German Army (Bundeswehr).

Russian guided missiles, target detection systems and Iranian drones deployed by Moscow are also on the BND’s list of interests.

Mutual espionage

At the request of German journalists, the BND and the Bundeswehr did not want to comment on these actions. According to the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, any information about the acquisition and evaluation of foreign military equipment is “confidential or top secret.”

When the war started in February, not only German diplomats left Ukraine, but also German special services, but in the meantime they became active again on the ground. From there, the BND not only receives information about the progress of the war for the federal government, but also regularly provides the Ukrainian side with classified information about the Russian armed forces.

Another important aspect of espionage is the study of Russian weapons and equipment, especially unknown ones. For example, it’s about determining which capabilities of Russia’s latest main battle tank are just Kremlin propaganda or actually pose a huge threat.

The evaluation of foreign defense technologies is by no means a one-sided affair: Russia is also strongly interested in obtaining Western military technologies. It is believed that this may be the reason for the rather indecisive supply of weapons to Ukraine by some NATO countries.

On November 9, Sky News reported that Russia sent planes with cash (140 million euros) to Iran, as well as American and British weapons captured in Ukraine, receiving Iranian drones in return.