The cyber attacks with which Russia has used espionage and disinformation in Western countries have been evidence for many years that the Kremlin has successfully transferred the old KGB methods into the digital age.
Even countries like Germany, which have linked their fate to Russia via gas pipelines, are among the preferred destinations.
Two days before the federal election, the German government has now moved the EU to take a joint position against the latest campaign by Russian state hackers.
Does that mean that people in Berlin are concerned about the integrity of the election?
One would like to know a little more about the Federal Prosecutor's investigation into the phishing attacks on MPs.
After all, such operations are intended to (also) manipulate the public debate, which is a particularly vulnerable point in open societies not only during election times.
There will always be espionage
Any attempt to talk the Russians (or any other country) out of spying is futile.
The floppy hat business is old and crisis-proof, even if they wear hoodies today.
The crucial question is whether the West can increase the cost of this drift.
Apparently, the EU's sanctions in this area have so far not been strong enough to impress the Kremlin.
The next federal government urgently needs to come up with something new.