Special forces evacuated German spy chief from Ukraine -Focus magazine

FILE PHOTO: The president of the German Federal Intelligence Agency (BND), Bruno Kahl, attends the opening ceremony of the new BND (Federal Intelligence Service) headquarter in Berlin, Germany, February 8, 2019. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

BERLIN (Reuters) - The head of Germany's foreign intelligence service was in Ukraine when Russia invaded and had to be taken home overland in a gruelling two-day journey by special forces when the country's airspace was closed, Focus magazine reported.

The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) confirmed that Bruno Kahl had been in Ukraine on Wednesday for "urgent talks" but had to change his departure plans after the invasion began.