A recent report from the British think tank RUI claims that Russia is developing new methods within espionage, as reported by Italethi and Dagbladet.
Russian espionage has evolved on several levels, indicating that Putin's spy army is adapting to a new era of political warfare in the West.
This adaptation includes recruiting more spies across large parts of Europe and exploiting the massive refugee flows resulting from the invasion of Ukraine.
Drawing from 'Stalin's Golden Age'
The Russian intelligence service has reportedly drawn inspiration from a notable figure from the past—a man of iron, so to speak.
According to Italethi, Russian journalist Andrei Soldatov believes that Putin has been inspired by dictator Josef Stalin and his infiltration methods during the Soviet Union, suggesting a return of the Russian intelligence service seeking vengeance.
Furthermore, the RUI report states that Russia has long focused on systematizing their operations against the West. By the end of 2022, the superpower realized the need for increased espionage reporting.
The think tank's report is based on documents from Russian special services and interviews with official bodies in Ukraine and Europe, Dagbladet reports. This development marks a significant shift in Russia's approach to espionage, highlighting a strategic effort to expand its influence and intelligence capabilities across Europe.
