Husband and wife outed as GRU spies aiding bombings and poisonings across Europe (theins.ru)

Article summary

A husband and wife, Nikolai and Elena Šapošnikov, have been outed as Russian spies working for the GRU, aiding in bombings and poisonings across Europe. They lived in Czechia under false pretenses, posing as naturalized citizens, and were involved in arms dealing. The couple provided support to GRU Unit 29155, a sabotage squad responsible for attacks in Czechia and Bulgaria. They also owned a villa in Greece that served as a safehouse for GRU operatives.

Main themes

• Russian espionage
• GRU operations
• Illegals program
• European security
• Intelligence agency duplication
• Authoritarian regimes

What commenters say

• The GRU has a long-running program to run 'illegals' for sensitive or deniable tasks, which has been known to Western intelligence agencies for decades.
• The duplication of intelligence agencies and their capabilities is a feature of authoritarian regimes, intended to prevent any one agency from becoming too powerful.
• The existence of 'illegals' programs is not unique to Russia, and many countries have similar operations, including the US, which has seen the expansion of military human intelligence in recent years.
• The GRU's use of 'illegals' is a waste of resources, as it is a difficult and expensive program to maintain, and other intelligence agencies, such as the SVR, may be more effective in achieving similar goals.
• The Russian government's ability to seize or block websites, including those with .ru domains, is limited, and independent media outlets can easily reopen under different domains or continue to operate despite restrictions.
• The story of the Šapošnikovs is reminiscent of spy dramas, but the reality of undercover agents is more complex, and their pay and working conditions are likely to be secretive and varied.
• The GRU's operations, including the use of 'illegals', are a key part of Russia's military doctrine, which has been visible in the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.
• The concept of 'illegals' programs is not limited to authoritarian countries, and many countries have similar operations, highlighting the need for international cooperation and regulation in the field of intelligence gathering.