GETTY Germany has clashed with Russia over an alleged propaganda campaign against Angela Merkel

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Head of Berlin's BfV intelligence agency, Hans-Georg Maassen, condemned the Kremlin for increasing its "operations" against the German Chancellor and other government figures. Mr Maassen said: "We see aggressive and increased cyber spying and cyber operations that could potentially endanger German government officials, members of parliament and employees of democratic parties." The surveillance chief, who raised similar concerns about Moscow efforts to interfere in German elections last month, said he expected further cyber attacks from Vladimir Putin's intelligence agencies.

BfV said it had seen a wide variety of Kremlin propaganda tool and "enormous use of financial resources" to carry out "disinformation" campaigns aimed at the Russian-speaking community in Germany, political movements, parties and other decision makers.

Propaganda and disinformation, cyber attacks, cyber espionage and cyber sabotage are part of the hybrid threat facing western democracies Hans-Georg Maassen, BfV intelligence agency

Mr Maassen claimed Russia's goal is to spread uncertainty in society, to "weaken or destabilise the Federal Republic of Germany" and to strengthen extremist groups and parties. He also claimed Moscow is aiming to complicate the work of the federal government and influence political dialogue. The agency said it had seen a "striking increase" in spea-phishing attacks attributed to a Russian hacking group APT 28, also known as "Fancy Bear" or Strontrium, the same group blamed for the hack of the Democrat party in the US this year and a cyber attack on the German parliament in 2015.

GETTY The German intelligence agency warned of increased and aggressive cyber spying

The attacks were directed against German parties and members of parliament, according to Mr Maassden, which added they were carried out by government bodies posing as "hacktivists". He said: "Propaganda and disinformation, cyber attacks, cyber espionage and cyber sabotage are part of the hybrid threat facing western democracies." German officials have accused Moscow of trying to manipulate German media to create angst over issues such as the migrant crisis, weaken voter trust and breed dissent within the European Union so that it drops sanctions against Moscow.

Inside the Russian Army Mon, January 9, 2017 A look inside the powerful Russian Army. Play slideshow REX/Shutterstock 1 of 50 Russian Special Forces: Exercises include taking full-force punches in the chest from their commanding officers without flinching

GETTY A Russian hacking group targeted the German parliament in 2015