NatSec Matters

Russia's 'Shadow War': Bojan Pancevski

22 snips
Feb 26, 2025
In a gripping discussion, Bojan Pancevski, Chief European Political Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, dives deep into Russia's newly established Department of Special Tasks. He reveals its covert operations targeting NATO, including sabotage and cyberattacks. Pancevski uncovers the historical motives fueling these actions and the reckless strategies reshaping Russian intelligence post-Ukraine conflict. He also highlights alarming incidents like the DHL plot and parallels to Cold War tactics, emphasizing the urgent need for Western unity against these threats.
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INSIGHT

Russia's New Spy Department

  • Russia formed a new intelligence department, the Department of Special Tasks (SSD), in early 2023.
  • This department centralizes clandestine operations, foreign agent recruitment, and aims to counter Western influence globally.
INSIGHT

Reasons for SSD Creation

  • The SSD was created due to perceived intelligence failures during the initial stages of the Ukraine war.
  • The expulsion of Russian diplomats from Europe forced Russia to rely on proxies and "illegals."
ANECDOTE

Proxy Operations

  • Russian intelligence uses proxies recruited online for various tasks, including arson and assaults.
  • A Prague incident involved a proxy setting a bus on fire.
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