Employee of Austria’s largest energy company suspected of spying for Russia, Profil reports

A long-time employee of Austria’s partially state-owned energy company OMV is suspected of spying for Russia, Austrian publication Profil reports.

Austria’s intelligence services monitored the employee for several months and observed that he frequently met with a Russian Embassy diplomat whom Western intelligence agencies believed to be an FSB agent.

OMV is Austria’s largest and most important infrastructure company, and until recently, it was a partner of Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom. The firm has more than 20,000 employees, and the individual under investigation held a significant role. The company trusted him enough to assign him to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), the state oil company of Abu Dhabi. For OMV, Adnoc is important not only as a co-owner but also as a partner in multibillion-dollar joint projects. The two companies recently merged their petrochemical subsidiaries, Borealis and Borouge, into one of the world’s largest plastics producers, a deal expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026.

The suspected spy at OMV was familiar with the deals, authorities said. He traveled between Abu Dhabi and Austria. While in Vienna, he met with his Russian embassy contact and provided detailed updates on current developments. The diplomat kept a low profile, holding only the official title of “attaché.” Austria’s Foreign Ministry said it was not fully aware of his activities.

Evidence presented to the court indicates the diplomat may have been connected to the FSB, according to Profil. By court order, authorities searched the OMV employee’s premises and found numerous classified and confidential documents. Investigators are working to determine whether he acted alone or had accomplices, what data was passed on and to whom, how long the spying continued, and when he was recruited.

OMV confirmed the information to Profil and said the employee was immediately dismissed.

“OMV confirms that the employment relationship with the employee in question has been terminated with immediate effect. OMV is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities. Please understand that, for data protection reasons, we cannot comment on further details regarding individual employment relationships,” the company said in a statement.

Austria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that an investigation is underway. Authorities are demanding that Russia lift the diplomat’s immunity. Moscow has not yet responded, Profil reported. If immunity is not lifted, under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations the diplomat will automatically be declared persona non grata, requiring him to leave the country immediately.