Many state officials in the Russian Federation have become informers for the U.S. intelligence.
Current and former U.S. officials say that despite Mr. Putin’s apparent unchallenged control over Russian society and political life, Russia has emerged as a potentially rich recruiting environment for government officials and others unnerved by the mounting costs of the Ukraine invasion, The Wall Street Journal writes.
Since last fall, the CIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation have used social-media platforms and public appearances to encourage Russians angered by President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to contact them. The semipublic campaign has borne fruit, CIA officials said this week.
The official declined to provide details of how many would-be Russian agents have contacted the CIA or what information they were in a position to provide, citing operational secrecy. According to gum, the CIA hopes to get information on topics such as Russia’s economy, foreign policy and cyber activities.
Apart from those staying in Russia, an estimated 500,000 or more Russians have fled abroad, where they are easier for U.S. spy agencies to contact.
“We’re looking around the world for Russians who are as disgusted with that as we are,” CIA Deputy Director of Operations David Marlowe said in November. “Because we’re open for business.”
To expand its reach, the department created a Telegram channel on May 13, where it published posts and videos with information about cooperation and instructions for contacting the CIA on Tor, an anonymous encrypted Internet communications tool.
“Are you a military officer? Do you work in the field of intelligence, diplomacy, science, high technology, or do you deal with people who do this? Do you have information about the economy or the top leadership of the Russian Federation? Contact us,” says one of the posts.
If in the middle of the day on May 16, the channel had less than 3,000 subscribers, then by 12.30 Minsk time on May 17 — more than 10,200. And more than 250,000 people watched the first of two videos and a text message.
Daniel Hoffman, a retired CIA officer who served as the agency’s Moscow station chief, said any Russian volunteering to help the U.S. would do so at a time or place of his or her choosing. But the video, he said, helps by “letting them know that we’re here and can securely engage with them.”
That is a “respectful” approach, he said. “It’s designed for people that are on the fence.”
Mr. Hoffman noted that it was particularly important to address the Russians in the run-up to an expected major Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian military forces on its territory which, depending on its success, could unnerve some Russian citizens further. “You want to be prepared, with your catcher’s mitt, ready to go,” he said.
Mr. Hoffman said that even if the video results in just a single recruit, “that’s a great operation.”
Current and former U.S. officials say that despite Mr. Putin’s apparent unchallenged control over Russian society and political life, Russia has emerged as a potentially rich recruiting environment for government officials and others unnerved by the mounting costs of the Ukraine invasion, The Wall Street Journal writes.
Since last fall, the CIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation have used social-media platforms and public appearances to encourage Russians angered by President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to contact them. The semipublic campaign has borne fruit, CIA officials said this week.
The official declined to provide details of how many would-be Russian agents have contacted the CIA or what information they were in a position to provide, citing operational secrecy. According to gum, the CIA hopes to get information on topics such as Russia’s economy, foreign policy and cyber activities.
Apart from those staying in Russia, an estimated 500,000 or more Russians have fled abroad, where they are easier for U.S. spy agencies to contact.
“We’re looking around the world for Russians who are as disgusted with that as we are,” CIA Deputy Director of Operations David Marlowe said in November. “Because we’re open for business.”
To expand its reach, the department created a Telegram channel on May 13, where it published posts and videos with information about cooperation and instructions for contacting the CIA on Tor, an anonymous encrypted Internet communications tool.
“Are you a military officer? Do you work in the field of intelligence, diplomacy, science, high technology, or do you deal with people who do this? Do you have information about the economy or the top leadership of the Russian Federation? Contact us,” says one of the posts.
If in the middle of the day on May 16, the channel had less than 3,000 subscribers, then by 12.30 Minsk time on May 17 — more than 10,200. And more than 250,000 people watched the first of two videos and a text message.
Daniel Hoffman, a retired CIA officer who served as the agency’s Moscow station chief, said any Russian volunteering to help the U.S. would do so at a time or place of his or her choosing. But the video, he said, helps by “letting them know that we’re here and can securely engage with them.”
That is a “respectful” approach, he said. “It’s designed for people that are on the fence.”
Mr. Hoffman noted that it was particularly important to address the Russians in the run-up to an expected major Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian military forces on its territory which, depending on its success, could unnerve some Russian citizens further. “You want to be prepared, with your catcher’s mitt, ready to go,” he said.
Mr. Hoffman said that even if the video results in just a single recruit, “that’s a great operation.”
Look at the total list of publicly known US defectors to Russia. Now look at the list of Russian/Soviet defectors to the US. The fact that there are many, many more Soviet/Russian defectors should tell you something.
Forwarded from AZOV Ukraine Supporters Δ🇺🇦🔱ꑭ✙ #MUGA
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Russia destroyed the headquarters of Wagner in Syria with an Airstrike yesterday.
If anybody in Wagner willingly continues to fight in Ukraine after knowing Shoigu wants them dead, they deserve what is coming
The attempted mutiny in Russia shows “real cracks” in the power of Vladimir Putin, America’s top diplomat has said.
In the first direct comments by the US government, Anthony Blinken said Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigohzin had issued a “direct challenge” to the Russian president.
“I don’t think we have seen the final act,” Mr Blinken said, after a deal was struck to turn Prigohzin’s fighters back from Moscow on Saturday night.
Putin has not been seen in public since addressing the nation on Saturday morning, vowing to put down the rebellion.
Mr Blinken described the conflict as an “internal matter” for Putin, who must now seek to address the turmoil in the weeks ahead as the fracture threatens Moscow’s military capabilities.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, echoed Mr Blinken on Sunday, saying Wagner’s revolt had highlighted the divisions within Russian leadership.
The abandoned march on Moscow “shows the divisions that exist within the Russian camp, and the fragility of both its military and its auxillary forces”, Mr Macron told Provence newspaper.
He added that “the situation is still developing” and that he was “following the events hour by hour”.
The rebellion was the culmination of Prigozhin’s frustration with leaders within the Russian military over their conduct in the invasion of Ukraine.
In the first direct comments by the US government, Anthony Blinken said Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigohzin had issued a “direct challenge” to the Russian president.
“I don’t think we have seen the final act,” Mr Blinken said, after a deal was struck to turn Prigohzin’s fighters back from Moscow on Saturday night.
Putin has not been seen in public since addressing the nation on Saturday morning, vowing to put down the rebellion.
Mr Blinken described the conflict as an “internal matter” for Putin, who must now seek to address the turmoil in the weeks ahead as the fracture threatens Moscow’s military capabilities.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, echoed Mr Blinken on Sunday, saying Wagner’s revolt had highlighted the divisions within Russian leadership.
The abandoned march on Moscow “shows the divisions that exist within the Russian camp, and the fragility of both its military and its auxillary forces”, Mr Macron told Provence newspaper.
He added that “the situation is still developing” and that he was “following the events hour by hour”.
The rebellion was the culmination of Prigozhin’s frustration with leaders within the Russian military over their conduct in the invasion of Ukraine.
The feeling of betrayal sweeping over the Russian forces must be building. I don't think we've seen the last of it yet.