Russian Operatives hate Putin!
No surprise there, you think.
Of course a GRU/SVR/FSB intelligence operative, resident in the West, would claim to hate Putin - and even Russia.
Unfortunately many of us are all too ready to buy their fancy stories of being Kremlin dissidents.
1/
No surprise there, you think.
Of course a GRU/SVR/FSB intelligence operative, resident in the West, would claim to hate Putin - and even Russia.
Unfortunately many of us are all too ready to buy their fancy stories of being Kremlin dissidents.
1/
Michael Weiss@michaeldweiss
Jul 25
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NEW: @The Insider and its partners @Le Monde and @DER SPIEGEL have identified the French chef arrested on suspicion of working for Russian intelligence to disrupt the Paris Olympics. Meet Kirill Griaznov, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, reality TV star and FSB officer. We have his emails. Oh, and he's been to New York too! theins.press/en/politics/27
Hiding in plain sight.
When thinking of Russian intel operatives many of us have concepts of the cold war in mind. Sleeper agents, faked identities, covert spycraft.
While this still exists Russia can exploit our lack of resilience much more directly.
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x.com/PjotrSauer/sta
Pjotr Sauer@PjotrSauer
Jun 16 22
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Dutch intelligence agencies say that they have identified a Russian GRU agent who tried to intern at the ICC under a false Brazilian identity. They have also released his rather touching four-page cover letter
english.aivd.nl/latest/news/20
These days many Russian field operatives choose a more effective disguise:
They hide in plain sight - as Russians (or what Russia considers Russian, like central Asia, Caucasus etc)
All they need: Wear the cloak of being academic dissidents, anti-Putin or even to hate Russia.
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Espionage - the lazy way.
Posing as Russian Regime critic seems simple enough - but why all the effort when you can have it even more easy?
Simply say nothing and moan about being unfairly made responsible for Russian aggression.
For easy infil/exfil be a sightseeing tourist.
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Russia abuses "Good Russians"
Russian spycraft abuses the principles of our liberal democracies against us.
We can't judge a person by their nationhood alone.
If we encounter someone charming, ostensibly anti-Putin, it fans the glimmer of hope reaffirming Russians can be good.
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There are great Russians living in the West. They genuinely hate what Russia has become, oppose Russian aggression and imperialism.
This groundwork of trust, created by honest dissidents, is one main vector Russian services abuse to infiltrate our societies with operatives.
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Russian Networks in the West.
After the iron curtain lifted Russia gained access to the globally connected free world. Academic and cultural exchange flourished, business ties were created. Whole networks of Russian influence developed in the West.
Russia weaponizes these now.
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The Good, the Expat, & the Russian Agent
Russian ties with and influence in the West have created a multi layered system of networks. It is easy for Russian operatives to hide as dissident or simple expat using these existing networks of trust by mirroring our expectations.
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How to Spot a Spy - Evidence
First of all you have to accept that there will almost never be "proof". As layman you are facing a state actor with experience and intent to keep operations in the realm of reasonable doubt.
Your first defense is to keep aware and contextualize.
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How to Spot a Spy - Trust but Verify
As a main attack vector are social networks of trust it's important to not overly rely on the network's "intelligence" and do your own checks.
Google and your own memory are your friends, check someones vita for ruptures & inconsistencies.
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How to Spot a Spy - Continuity
Intelligence goals change - with them the aims of an operative. Especially in times of war.
An operative that was staunchly anti Zelenskyy might be redirected to "change sides" to influence pro-Ukraine communities.
A warning flag par excellence!
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How to Spot a Spy - Agenda
Targeted op is a Russian thing, sowing chaos/distrust is another. A Russian operative may appear anti-Russia and pro-Ukraine but at times have "outbreaks" and push a political agenda, far right or anti Biden for example.
Sowing discord camouflaged.
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How to Spot a Spy - Conduct
Many Russian operatives are quite charming and hence well networked. Some even use the common Russian pattern to kick off NGO's to increase legitimacy.
A potential give away here is their conduct, esp. how and if they deal with critics & criticism.
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How to Spot a Spy - It's a cult!
Russian operatives are under pressure to produce results fast. The employment of networks as attack vector presents a challenge for them. They need to grow them fast, link them together and make them resilient.
Cult like structures develop.
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Protect the Networks!
The social/biz/academic networks of our liberal societies are our strength but are dangerously exploitable.
We need to realize that we are at war and protect our networks by being vigilant and check ourselves when we see warning flags or are alerted.
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Caveat
The above list is by no means complete and intended to serve as starting point only - especially for the social media environment.
For a broad information on Russian methods please check @Keir Giles excellent handbook on Russian information war.
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ndc.nato.int/news/news.php?
Too much good is bad!
While vigilance is good, hyper vigilance causes more harm than good. Shaming people for occasional or minor infractions causes the distrust Russian cognitive warfare desires.
We need to look at the bigger picture - contextualize several warning flags.
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Wait, there's more!
Working for imperialist Russia isn't limited to expats from Russia or her (ex) colonies. Some people are western useful idiots, have far right agenda, see Russia as commie's last hope or just love them rubles.
They form Russia's enablers in our networks.
18/
But, if you encounter a Russian not only hating Putin, but all things Russian please be alert. This most likely is a caricature, how an imperialist Russian imagines the mindset of a dissident.
The dissidents I know fight imperialism & putin but love their kin.
Also: China.
19/19
Sparty
@spartyflyboy
Passionate about building resilience to defend freedom & democracy.
Mixing Luhmann & deterministic chaos.
Also semi Popperian particle pusher.
Гопник = block
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