In case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal published an article detailing a new Russian intelligence unit that is tasked with conducting sabotage, assassinations, and infiltrating organisations in the West.
Here’s a TL;DR summary:
New Russian Intelligence Unit
- Russia has established a secretive spy unit called the Department of Special Tasks (SSD).
- It operates from the Russian military-intelligence headquarters in Moscow.
Operations and Objectives
- Three main objectives: carrying out killings and sabotage overseas, infiltrating Western companies and universities, and recruiting and training foreign agents.
- Western intelligence officials believe it is behind a failed assassination attempt on a German arms CEO and an attack on DHL planes.
- SSD has allegedly targeted Germany, seen as a weak link in NATO, due to its energy dependence on Russia and internal political divisions.
Key Figures
- Col. Gen. Andrey Averyanov leads SSD and has been implicated in past Russian operations, including the 2014 Czech ammunition depot explosion.
- Lt. Gen. Ivan Kasianenko, his deputy, allegedly coordinated the 2018 Skripal poisoning and now oversees SSD’s covert operations in Europe and Wagner operations in Africa.
- Kasianenko has also facilitated military cooperation between Russia and Iran, particularly in drone and missile technology.
Western Response
- U.S. and European intelligence agencies have sanctioned SSD members and issued arrest warrants.
- Warnings were sent in August 2024 to major airlines and shipping companies regarding SSD’s sabotage plots.
- The U.S. and NATO are considering increased covert responses, with calls for the CIA to act more aggressively. Source:
Source: https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/russia-spy-covert-attacks-8199e376