
Almost three in four Germans do not believe their country's military would be able to defend Germany from a Russian military attack, according to a new poll that is fueling debate over Berlin's defensive preparedness in a tense security climate in Europe.
A poll conducted by INSA for the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag shows that 72 percent of respondents do not believe that the Bundeswehr – the German military – could resist an aggression from Moscow, while only 17 percent think that the armed forces would be able to adequately defend the country.
"If an attack were to occur, only 17% believe that the Bundeswehr would be able to adequately defend our country. Meanwhile, almost three-quarters, 72%, are convinced that our soldiers would have nothing to oppose an aggressor from the Kremlin," the survey report quotes.
However, paradoxically, fears of a direct Russian attack on Germany have declined significantly compared to last year.
Currently, 38 percent of Germans say they are worried about the possibility of a Russian military attack, a decrease of 14 percentage points compared to September 2025. Half of those surveyed said they are not at all afraid of such a scenario.
On the other hand, concern seems to have shifted towards hybrid threats, such as cyberattacks, espionage or sabotage.
According to the survey, 66 percent of respondents fear that Russia-linked attacks could affect life in Germany, while only 22 percent said they have no such concerns.
Even trust in American aid appears limited.
Only 35 percent of Germans believe that the United States would come to Germany's military aid in the event of an attack, while 43 percent do not expect support from Washington.