Russian intelligence advancing Russian policy

It’s been obvious from the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s reign that Russia is obsessed with regaining its former control at least over the formerly Soviet-occupied areas.

To this end the political-economic cohesiveness of the European Union must be weakened, political unity within any one country disrupted, NATO’s expansion eastward blocked and military deployment close to its borders must be removed.

In helping to move toward these goals, social media campaigns, traditional propaganda, aggressive diplomacy are simply insufficient. Moscow needs assets on the ground to gain information and advance their cause.