Change Agents with Andy Stumpf Inside Russia’s Spy Factory in Brazil: Deep-Cover Operatives Targeting the U.S.
Aug 13, 2025
Michael Schwirtz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and national security reporter for The New York Times, sheds light on a shocking Russian spy factory in Brazil. He reveals how operatives crafted deep-cover identities to infiltrate the U.S. and discusses the role of Brazilian authorities in exposing these spies. The conversation also dives into the complexities of international espionage, the challenges posed by modern technology, and the intricate world of intelligence agencies. A riveting exploration of contemporary espionage!
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Russia’s Brazil Spy Factory
- Russia ran a "spy factory" in Brazil to create long-term Brazilian cover identities for operatives.
- These illegals lived real lives abroad to move freely and spy in the West.
Operatives Built Real Lives
- Some operatives in Brazil ran legitimate businesses like a 3D printing firm and jewelry stores to cement their cover.
- They married, worked government contracts, and built multi-year backstories to avoid detection.
Illegals Program Is Deep Cover
- Russia's "illegals" program creates fully fictitious national identities, unlike typical Western undercover practice.
- The program focuses on long-term assimilation: native language, jobs, and plausible histories.