The CIA has launched a new effort to recruit Russians disaffected by the war in Ukraine and by life in Russia to share their secrets, releasing a recruitment video online on May 15, 2023, CNN reported.
An “unprecedented” opportunity
US officials described the moment as an “unprecedented” opportunity. They said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had created a historic chance “to have Russians come to us and deliver information the United States needs.”
The cinematic video debuted on a new CIA Telegram channel, widely used in Russia, and was also shared on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. It ends with instructions on how to contact the agency anonymously and securely.
An appeal to patriotism
The video appeals to Russian patriotism, quoting Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and does not mention Vladimir Putin or the war directly. Officials said it was not intended to incite unrest but to reach people who were undecided.
The CIA estimates there are thousands or even tens of thousands of potential sources in Russia and abroad, working in fields such as cybersecurity, finance, the military and diplomacy.
“Gnaw away”
The campaign builds on earlier efforts, including a 2022 CIA Instagram post explaining how to contact the agency using VPNs and the Tor browser. In a speech in April, CIA Director William Burns said: “Disaffection with the war will continue to gnaw away at the Russian leadership.”
The FBI has run a similar campaign aimed at Russians living in the United States.
Sources
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