• The chief of Germany’s navy has revealed that “more than one” warship has been subjected to sabotage recently.

• This information comes in light of a report indicating that metal shavings were discovered in the engine system of a corvette-class ship.

• While not naming any specific entities, the German naval leader highlighted an escalating threat from Russia.

On Tuesday, the German naval chief announced that multiple ships in Berlin’s fleet had fallen victim to sabotage.

Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, the inspector general of the German navy, stated in a press conference that the incidents included “more than one unit.”

He also mentioned attempted breaches at naval bases both on land and at sea, along with efforts to approach military personnel as they were returning home.

While Kaack refrained from delving into specifics regarding the sabotage cases or naming suspects, he issued a cautionary remark regarding Moscow during the press interaction.

“The threat level posed by Russia is becoming more pressing as we enter 2025 compared to two years ago,” he remarked.

Kaack’s statements follow a report from the local news outlet Süddeutsche Zeitung, which disclosed that German authorities were probing an incident at a Hamburg shipyard involving the dumping of substantial metal shavings into a corvette’s engine.

According to a joint report from broadcasters WDR and NDR, the affected corvette is named “Emden,” a newly constructed vessel set for delivery to the German military and planned for deployment in the Baltic Sea.

Süddeutsche Zeitung noted that had these metal shavings gone unnoticed during an inspection, they would have likely led to severe damage to the ship.

When questioned about the Süddeutsche Zeitung report during his press conference, Kaack did not affirm the specifics of the “Emden” sabotage incident.

The “Emden” is part of a fleet of five K130 corvettes that Germany has ordered, scheduled to be delivered by 2025 to meet NATO commitments.

The shipbuilding company Naval Vessels Lürssen reported to Agence France-Presse that the “Emden” had recently completed a successful sea trial.

However, they did not respond to a request for comments from Business Insider outside regular business hours.

Germany remains vigilant regarding potential sabotage following numerous incidents over the past two years, including a suspicious fire on a plane and a fire in a Berlin ammunition factory.

Most recently, in January, an explosion at a German ammunition facility in Spain left six workers injured.

German officials have frequently indicated that Russia is a primary suspect in many of these cases, although investigations are still ongoing.

Allied countries of Ukraine have accused Russia of engaging in a “hybrid war” against the West, with allegations of attempted assassination against a defense contractor CEO and the increasing belief that Russia-linked vessels have damaged underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

Requests for comment from the Russian government and the German navy went unanswered by Business Insider, sent outside their regular business hours.

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