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			{{short description\|Russia's primary external intelligence agency}}
	]
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=October 2020}}
			{{Infobox government agency
			\| agency_name = Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation
			\| nativename =
			\| nativename_a =
			\| nativename_r = {{lang\|ru\|Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации}}
			\| logo = Emblem of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia.svg
			\| logo_width = 150 px
			\| logo_caption = Emblem of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation
			\| seal =
			\| seal_width =
			\| seal_caption =
			\| picture = Flag of the Foreign Intelligence Service (Russia).svg{{!}}border
			\| picture_width = 150px
			\| picture_caption = Flag of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation
			\| formed = {{start date and age\|df=y\|1991\|12}}
			\| preceding1 = ] ]
			\| preceding2 =
			\| dissolved =
			\| superseding =
			\| jurisdiction = Russia
			\| headquarters = ], Moscow, Russia
			\| coordinates = {{Coord\|55.584\|N\|37.517\|E\|display= title,inline}}
			\| employees = ''Classified''; estimated 13,000 in 2010<ref>{{cite news \| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10447308 \| title=Profile: Russia's SVR intelligence agency \| work=BBC News \| date=29 June 2010 }}</ref>
			\| budget = ''Classified''
			\| minister1_name = ]
			\| minister1_pfo = ]
			\| minister2_name =
			\| minister2_pfo =
			\| chief1_name = ]
			\| chief1_position = ]
			\| chief2_name =
			\| chief2_position =
			\| parent_agency =
			\| child1_agency = Institute of Intelligence Information
			\| child2_agency =
			\| website =
			\| footnotes = <!--- Российской Федерации---->
			{{Infobox building
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			\| name =
			\| native_name =
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			\| image = Some Moscow buildings (2558373456).jpg
			\| image_size = 250px
			\| caption = Headquarters of the SVR in Moscow
			\| start_date =
			\| completion_date =
			\| location =
			\| coordinates =
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			\| architectural =
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			}}

			The '''Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation''' ({{lang-rus\|Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации\|r=Sluzhba vneshney razvedki Rossiyskoy Federatsii \|p=ˈsluʐbə ˈvnʲɛʂnʲɪj rɐˈzvʲɛtkʲɪ}}) or '''FIS RF''' ({{lang-rus\|СВР РФ\|r= SVR RF}}) is Russia's external ], focusing mainly on civilian affairs. The SVR RF succeeded the ] (PGU) of the ] in December 1991.<ref name="Littell">'''' by ], Psan Publishing House 2006.</ref> The SVR has its headquarters in the ] of Moscow with its director reporting directly to the ].
	'''Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki (Служба внешней разведки)''' ('''SVR''') is ] for "Foreign Intelligence Service" and is the name of ]'s primary external ] agency.

			Unlike the Russian ] (FSB), the SVR is tasked with intelligence and espionage activities outside the Russian Federation. It works together with the Russian ] ({{lang-rus\|Главное разведывательное управление\|r= Glavnoye razvedyvatel'noye upravleniye\|p= ˈglavnəjə rɐzˈvʲɛdɨvətʲɪlʲnəjə ʊprɐˈvlʲenʲɪjə}}, GRU), its military-joint affairs espionage counterpart, which reportedly deployed six times as many spies in foreign countries as the SVR in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=4&issue_id=217&article_id=2507\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125045521/http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=4&issue_id=217&article_id=2507\|url-status=dead\|title=The Jamestown Foundation\|archive-date=25 November 2006}}</ref> The SVR is also authorized to negotiate anti-terrorist cooperation and intelligence-sharing arrangements with foreign intelligence agencies, and provides analysis and dissemination of intelligence to the ].<ref name="Mitrokhin"/>
	The SVR evolved from the ] after the collapse of the ]. In October of ], the Centralnaya Sluzhbza Razvedki (or CSR, the Central Intelligence Service) took over the intelligence gathering and analysis duties of the ]'s ]. In December of that year, the former chief of the KGB First Chief Directorate, ], was appointed head of the organization, which was then renamed SVR. The SVR was officially established on 18 December 1991 amidst the chaos occurring as the U.S.S.R. was collapsing and facing geopolitical decentralization.

			Any information pertaining to specific identities of staff employees (officers) of the SVR is legally classified as a state secret; since September 2018, the same applies to non-staff personnel (i.e., informers and recruited agents).<ref>
	The SVR performs intelligence gathering operations abroad and also enters into anti-terrorist cooperation and intelligence-sharing arrangements with foreign intelligence agencies. The SVR also conducts counterproliferation operations, environmental intelligence gathering, and special counternarcotics intelligence operations. The service also provides analysis and dissemination of intelligence to Russian Federation policymakers. Unlike the FSB, which is an investigative-enforcement organization, the SVR is an intelligence organization and does not operate as a law enforcement agency.
			] 4 September 2018.
			</ref>

			==History==
	==SVR Legal Authority==
			{{Main\|First Chief Directorate}}
	The Constitutional basis for the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) can be found in Articles 71, 72, 76 and 80 of the Russian Federation's Constitution. The power of the Russian Federation President to exercise executive direction and control of the SVR is based on Articles 80, 83, 86, 87, and 90 of the Russian Constitution.
			SVR RF is the official foreign-operations successor to many prior Soviet-era foreign intelligence agencies, ranging from the original 'foreign department' of the ] under ], to the ] and ] of the ]ist era, followed by the First Chief Directorate of the ].

			Officially, the SVR RF dates its own beginnings to the founding of the Special Section of the Cheka on 20 December 1920.{{Citation needed\|date=July 2011}} The head of the Cheka, ], created the Foreign Department (''Inostranny Otdel'' – INO) to improve the collection as well as the dissemination of foreign intelligence. On 6 February 1922, the Foreign Department of the Cheka became part of a renamed organization, the ''State Political Directorate'', or ]. The Foreign Department was placed in charge of intelligence activities overseas, including collection of important intelligence from foreign countries and the liquidation of defectors, emigres, and other assorted 'enemies of the people'. In 1922, after the creation of the State Political Directorate (GPU) and its merger with the ] of the RSFSR, foreign intelligence was conducted by the GPU Foreign Department, and between December 1923 and July 1934 by the Foreign Department of Joint State Political Administration or OGPU. In July 1934, the OGPU was reincorporated into the ]. In 1954, the NKVD in turn became the KGB, which in 1991 became SVR and FSB.
	The Russian Federation's "Law on Foreign Intelligence Organs" was passed by the Duma and the Federation Council in late 1995 and signed into effect by then-President Boris Yeltsin on 10 January 1996. The law authorizes the SVR to carry out the following missions:

			In 1996, the SVR RF issued a CD-ROM entitled ''Russian Foreign Intelligence: VChK–KGB–SVR'', which claims to provide "a professional view on the history and development of one of the most powerful secret services in the world" where all services are presented as one evolving organization.<ref name="Mitrokhin"/>
	(1) Acquire, process and analyze information vital to the Russian Federation's interests;
	(2) Assist the federal government in implementing measures to ensure Russia's security;
	(3) Conduct activities to benefit the economic, scientific and technological development of Russia;
	(4) Protect employees of Russian institutions overseas and their families;
	(5) Provide personnel security for government personnel and their families;
	(6) Cooperate and conduct liaison activities with foreign security services (consistent with the law, treaties and agreements);
	(7) Establish and operate information systems and communication networks pertaining to foreign intelligence administration.

			Former ] ] stated "there has not been any place on the planet where a KGB officer has not been". During their 80th anniversary celebration, ] went to SVR headquarters to meet with other former KGB/SVR chiefs ], ], ], and ], as well as other agents, including the British double agent and ex-Soviet spy ].<ref>{{Cite book\|url=https://fas.org/irp/ops/ci/docs/ci4/ch2.pdf\|title=A Counterintelligence Reader, Volume IV: American Revolution into the New Millenium\|last=((National Counterintelligence and Security Center))\|publisher=]\|isbn=9781780392318\|editor-last=Rafalko\|editor-first=Frank J.\|via=]\|date=September 2011}}</ref>
	==SVR Intelligence Oversight==
	The President of the Russian Federation exercises executive oversight and supervision of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) pursuant to Articles 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, and 14 of the 1996 Foreign Intelligence Organs Act. The Legislative Branch monitors SVR financial and staffing issues pursuant to Article 24. The Procurator General (per Article 25) has the authority to investigate and assess whether the SVR follows Russian law. SVR officials provide regular briefings to members of the Federation Council and the Duma. Most appropriations bills for the SVR start in the Federation Council rather than in the Duma. The Russian Federation President has the prerogative of special administrative privilege to issue special orders, instructions and decrees concerning foreign intelligence (on behalf of the Duma and Federation Council) that, at his discretion, can remain secret or made public.

			==Legal authority==
	==SVR Organizational/Corporate Command Structure==
			The "Law on Foreign Intelligence" was written by the SVR leadership itself and adopted in August 1992. This Law provided conditions for "penetration by checkists of all levels of the government and economy", since it stipulated that "career personnel may occupy positions in ministries, departments, establishments, enterprises and organizations in accordance with the requirements of this law without compromising their association with foreign intelligence agencies."<ref name="Anderson"> Anderson, Julie (2007), International Journal of Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence, 20:2, 258 – 316</ref>
	The SVR Director is appointed by and reports directly to the Russian Federation President. The Director currently holds the rank and grade of a Ground Forces General or Navy Admiral. The Director provides routine briefings to the President every Monday and on other occasions as necessary. The Director is also an integral member of the Security Council. Within the SVR, the Director is a strong chief executive officer and has a Consulting Group that serves as a sort of strategic advisory team and "kitchen cabinet". Within the Executive Directorate (Office of The Director), there is a: (1) Protocol Office; (2) Power Structure Liaison Office; (3) Legal Counsel; (4) Public, Media & Press Relations Office; (5) SVR Historian; and (6) Inspector General. The Inspector General is believed to be very new and the I.G. is appointed by the SVR Director with the approval of the President; the I.G. serves as the overseer of operational readiness inspections, financial audits, and internal affairs/professional responsibility investigations on behalf of the SVR Director. The staff within the Inspector General's Office consist of accountants and highly experienced foreign intelligence officers who have received additional training through the FSB in criminal investigation and serve as an "internal affairs staff" for the SVR Director. The Principal Deputy Director of the SVR serves as the acting director in the absence or leave of the Director and can be assigned duties analagous to a Chief Operating Officer. There are seven directorates in the SVR (5 primary and 2 ordinary) and are titled as follows: Personnel (primary); Analysis & Information (primary); Science (primary); Operations (primary); Operational Logistics & Support (primary); Foreign Counterintelligence (ordinary); Economic Intelligence (ordinary). Each of the 7 directorates is headed by a Deputy Director. Each Deputy Director is selected by and reports directly to the SVR Director. The SVR is believed to consist of an estimated 14,500 full time equivalents (FTE). The SVR budget is classified and is not made public.

			A new "Law on Foreign Intelligence Organs" was passed by the ] and the ] in late 1995 and signed into effect by the then-President ] on 10 January 1996. The law authorizes the SVR to carry out the following:
	==SVR Personnel==
	Just as any government organization, and given that it is a global intelligence organization, the SVR employs people from many disciplines- law, journalism, public affairs, accounting, medicine, occupational health nursing, finance, logistics, business, engineering, computer science/information technology, forensics, and the natural and physical sciences. The SVR has secretaries and other program generalists who have extensive experience and competence in performing their duties.

			# Conduct intelligence;
	Since its inception (in December 1991), the SVR has departed from past precedent analysis methodologies of the KGB First Chief Directorate. No longer are the analytical products (assessments, estimates, white papers, and strategic studies) geared toward a preconceived or political agenda or rife with Communist era political correctness, but are geared with a mandate of objectivity from analysis of both open source and collected information. This is a major change because under the U.S.S.R., the political leaders wanted the raw intelligence and would perform the "analysis" themselves- whereas the Russian Federation's leaders want professional, scholarly, in-depth analyses and briefings provided for them. SVR analysts tend to be paid far higher salaries and benefits than their counterparts in academia or think tanks and represent some of the best minds in the Russian Federation. SVR analysts generally have a Ph.D. or master's degree in their field or discipline (primarily with respect to international relations, geographic area studies, economics, political science, history, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and law). Analysts are assigned to either a geographic or functional division within the Operations Directorate in order to interact with operational personnel. The Analysis & Information Directorate has core analysts who collate and analyze information, and write necessary documents, briefing materials, and papers to inform policymakers in the Russian Federation. Unlike intelligence analysts in other foreign intelligence services, SVR analysts are not shy about adding their opinions and providing recommended courses of action (with projected outcomes analyses) as addendums to their products; in fact, President Yeltsin and President Putin and their administrations have encouraged this practice. Many of the SVR's analytic products have been disseminated to other governments (especially since the events of 9/11) and have gained the SVR greater stature and respect as a premier global intelligence organization. The SVR does make a historical series available to the public and media (either in paper or CD-ROM forms).
			# Implement ] to ensure Russia's security;
			# Conduct military, strategic, economic, scientific and technological espionage;
			# Protect employees of Russian institutions overseas and their families;
			# Provide personal security for Russian government officials and their families;
			# Conduct joint operations with foreign security services;
			# Conduct ] in foreign countries.

			The SVR sends to the Russian president daily digests of intelligence, similar to the ] produced by the ] in the US. However, unlike in the US, the SVR recommends to the president which policy options are preferable.<ref name="Mitrokhin"/>
	The SVR's Science Directorate organizationally houses the SVR Academy (formerly called the "Academy of Foreign Intelligence" in the pre-Putin era of the SVR and "The Red Banner School" during the KGB's existence). The SVR Academy is primarily located at Yasenevo (just outside metro Moscow) and provides world-class training, education, and facilities to officer candidates and other students. Academy professors are highly experienced intelligence practitioners, many even have advanced degrees from Russian, British, American, Canadian, and other universities. Interestingly enough, the SVR has a "publishing house" where professors, students, and SVR executives can publish books, training manuals, research compendiums, and in-house journals. The SVR Academy coordinates all training and education needs (in-service and external) for the SVR's global workforce- including basic and advanced operations curricula, counter-terrorism courses, and even doctoral courses.

			Since 2012, the ] can personally issue any secret orders to the SVR RF without consulting the parliament of national legislature, the ], which consists of the ] and ].{{citation needed\|date=September 2017}}
	Under the Putin Administration and General Lebedev's leadership, the salaries and benefits paid to SVR officers have dramatically improved. The days of the 1990's, where SVR had problems making payroll, are gone. As an example, in 2002, all SVR Officers received an across-the-board 50% raise (in addition to the ordinary salary adjustments for state employees) and new (tax-free) allowances to afford a home, condominium, or apartment in the Russian Federation (even while stationed overseas). SVR officers currently receive competitive salaries with the Russian and CIS private economic sectors and special tax advantages. Retirement benefits are correlated to the Russian military's defined benefit plan (regular, non-contributory annuity) and are higher than those provided to other civil servants, and the social insurance plan (which provides regular payments for women at age 60 and men at age 65, survivors payments and disability payments). President Putin has reportedly expressed a desire for civil servants to have a savings-investment plan like that provided by the U.S. Government to its federal civilian employees and members of the uniformed services. The SVR and the FSB are believed to be the first two federal entities where a thrift savings-investment plan would be offered as a third tier to complement the regular annuity and social insurance plans.

			==Command structure==
	The SVR was somewhat "shunned" by many of the best students and intellectuals during the 1990's. Since 2002, recruitment (according to the Russian media) has picked up and the service is operating at full staff ceiling. In other words, the only people being hired are those needed to replace an employee who is retiring or separating. While standards fell in the late 1990's, now only the best and brightest, cream-of-the-crop candidates are being hired to become SVR officers. Minimum requirements are being between 21 and 35 years old (age waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis by the SVR Director), being a Russian citizen, no prior criminal record (no felonies, drug use, hooliganism, moral turpitude), good mental and physical health, and having a bachelor's degree. A graduate degree in law, international relations, foreign languages, public administration, economics, criminal justice, business, geographic area studies, engineering, computer science, or history is desired. Prior military experience and overseas experience is considered desirable. Unlike the KGB, the SVR welcomes all races, ethnicities and creeds. All personnel, just as in any other Russian Federation ministry, serve at the pleasure of the ministry head (in this case, the SVR Director).
			] and ], head of the SVR RF from 2007 to 2016]]

			According to Article 12 of the 1996 Federal Law "On Foreign Intelligence", "overall direction" of external intelligence activity is executed by the ], who appoints the ].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://svr.gov.ru/svr_today/doc02.htm\|title=Федеральный закон "О внешней разведке"\|website=svr.gov.ru}}</ref>
	==Public Perception==
	According to Russian media surveys (2004 and 2005), the Russian public realizes the need to have an active foreign intelligence capability in order to defend their homeland. The SVR appears to be positively perceived by most Russians as they view its mission as vital to their own security. This is a stark contrast to how citizens in Western countries tend to view their own nation's respective foreign intelligence services.

			The director provides regular briefings to the president. The director is a permanent member of the ] and the Defense Council.
	==Directors==

	* ] (December 1991 – 1996)
			According to published sources, the SVR included the following directorates in the 1990s:<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://fas.org/irp/world/russia/svr/org.htm\|title=SVR Organization - Russia / Soviet Intelligence Agencies\|access-date=16 May 2016\|archive-date=28 April 2016\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428001616/http://fas.org/irp/world/russia/svr/org.htm\|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Kuzminov">Alexander Kouzminov, , Greenhill Books, 2006, {{ISBN\|1-85367-646-2}}.</ref>
	* ] (1996–2000)

	* ] (], ]–present)
			* Directorate PR: Political Intelligence: Included seventeen departments, each responsible for different countries of the world (espionage in the US, Canada, Latin America, etc.)
			* Directorate S: Illegal Intelligence: Included thirteen departments responsible for preparing and planting "]" abroad, "biological espionage", recruitment of foreign citizens on the Russian territory and other duties.
			* Directorate X: Scientific and Technical Intelligence
			* Directorate KR: External Counter-Intelligence: This Directorate "carries out infiltration of foreign intelligence and security services and exercises surveillance over Russian citizens abroad."
			* Directorate OT: Operational and Technical Support
			* Directorate R: Operational Planning and Analysis: Evaluates SVR operations abroad.
			* Directorate I: Computer Service (Information and Dissemination): Analyzes and distributes intelligence data and publishes a daily current events summaries for the president.
			* Directorate of Economic Intelligence

			According to the SVR RF web site,<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://svr.gov.ru\|title=Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации\|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref> the organization currently consists of a director, a first deputy director (who oversees the directions for Foreign Counterintelligence and Economic Intelligence) and the following departments:
			*Personnel;
			*Operations;
			*Analysis & Information (formerly Intelligence Institute);
			*Science;
			*Operational Logistics & Support.

			Each directorate is headed by a deputy director who reports to the SVR Director. The Red Banner Intelligence Academy has been renamed the ] (ABP are its Russian initials) and is housed in the Science Directorate.

			==Involvement in Russian foreign policy==
			During Boris Yeltsin's presidency, the SVR conflicted with the ] for directing Russian foreign policy. SVR director ] upstaged the foreign ministry by publishing warnings to the West not to interfere in the unification of Russia with other former Soviet republics and attacking the ] as a threat to Russian security, whereas foreign minister ] was requesting different things. The rivalry ended in decisive victory for the SVR, when Primakov replaced Kozyrev in January 1996 and brought with him a number of SVR officers to the foreign ministry of Russia.<ref name="Mitrokhin"/>

			In September 1999, Yeltsin admitted that the SVR played a greater role in Russian foreign policy than the Foreign Ministry. It was reported that the SVR defined the Russian position on the ], NATO expansion, and modification of the ].<ref> By Victor Yasmann, '']'', 6 June 2000</ref> The SVR also tried to justify ] using selectively declassified documents.{{cn\|date=February 2023}}

			=== Sanctions ===
			Sanctioned in May 2023 by the ] pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite web \|title=With Over 300 Sanctions, U.S. Targets Russia's Circumvention and Evasion, Military-Industrial Supply Chains, and Future Energy Revenues \|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1494 \|date=19 May 2023}}</ref>

			==Operations==

			===Espionage===
			From the end of the 1980s, KGB and later SVR began to create "a second echelon" of "auxiliary agents in addition to our main weapons, illegals and special agents", according to former SVR officer Kouzminov.<ref name="Kuzminov"/> These agents are legal immigrants, including scientists and other professionals. Another SVR officer who defected to Britain in 1996 described several ''thousand'' Russian agents and intelligence officers, some of them "illegals" who live under deep cover abroad.<ref name="Mitrokhin">] and ] (2000). The ]: The KGB in Europe and the West. Gardners Books. {{ISBN\|0-14-028487-7}}.</ref>

			Between 1994 and 2001, high-profile cases of Americans working as sources ('spies') for Russian agencies included those of ], ], ], ] and ]. They would be considered double agents because they were working for American intelligence agencies while providing information to Russia. They were not Russian 'illegals' however, because they were American citizens.

			===Cooperation with foreign intelligence services===
			An agreement on intelligence cooperation between Russia and China was signed in 1992. This secret treaty covers cooperation of the GRU GSh VS RF and the SVR RF with the China's ].<ref name="spies1">{{cite web\|url=http://www.ncix.gov/issues/CI_Reader/Vol4/Vol4Chap2.pdf\|title=PDF volume about SVR espionage activities\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710180138/http://www.ncix.gov/issues/CI_Reader/Vol4/Vol4Chap2.pdf \|archive-date=10 July 2007 \|publisher=Office of the ]}}</ref> In 2003 it was reported that SVR RF trained ]i spies when Russia collaborated with ].<ref>{{cite news\|title=Russia now admits training Iraqi spies / But it says intent was to fight crime, terror\|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Russia-now-admits-training-Iraqi-spies-But-it-2621777.php\|access-date=21 February 2014\|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle\|date=17 April 2003\|author=Robert Collier\|author2=Bill Wallace}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.afpc.org/rrm/rrm597.htm \|title=Iraq's Russian Arms Buyer Headed Germ Warfare Program; Russian Spies Unmasked in London Financial System \|publisher=AFPC.org \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607020522/http://www.afpc.org/rrm/rrm597.htm \|archive-date=7 June 2007 }}</ref> The SVR also has cooperation agreements with the ] services of certain former Soviet republics, such as ] and ].<ref name="spies1" />

			===Assassinations abroad===
			{{see also\|Category:People attacked in FSB or SVR operations}}
			"In the Soviet era, the SVR – then part of the KGB – handled covert political assassinations abroad".<ref name="Littell"/> These activities reportedly continue.<ref name="Littell"/> It was reported in September 2003 that an SVR RF agent in London was making preparations to assassinate ] with a ], which is why Berezovsky had been speedily granted asylum in Britain.<ref name="dissident">
			] and Marina Litvinenko. '']: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB'', The Free Press (2007) {{ISBN\|1-4165-5165-4}}</ref> GRU officers who killed ] in ] in 2004 reportedly claimed that supporting SVR agents let them down by not evacuating them in time, so they have been arrested by Qatar authorities.<ref name="Littell"/>

			Former KGB agent ], who is believed to have been the poisoner of ] in 2006,{{citation needed\|date=February 2012}} was allegedly an SVR officer.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.ocnus.net/cgi-bin/exec/view.cgi?archive=106&num=26989 \|title=Russian Agency 'Led Poison Plot' \|access-date=2007-06-29 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004314/http://www.ocnus.net/cgi-bin/exec/view.cgi?archive=106&num=26989 \|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> However, SVR denied involvement in the ]. An SVR spokesperson queried over Litvinenko remarked: "May God give him health."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=qw1164142262147B216\|title=Independent Online (South Africa)\|website=www.iol.co.za\|accessdate=16 October 2022}}</ref> The SVR was reportedly involved in the likely assassination of Maxim Kuzminov.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/20/spain-russia-ukraine-kuminov-assassination-defector/ {{Bare URL inline\|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|title=Russian Pilot Who Defected to Ukraine Is Believed Dead in Spain \|work=The New York Times \|date=20 February 2024 \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/20/world/europe/russian-pilot-maksim-kuzminov-spain.html \|access-date=2024-04-05 \|last1=Schwirtz \|first1=Michael \|last2=Méheut \|first2=Constant }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|title=Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine shot dead in Spain - reports \|website=] \|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-pilot-who-defected-ukraine-shot-dead-spain-reports-2024-02-19/ \|access-date=2024-04-05}}</ref>

			===Special Operations Department of the SVR "Zaslon"===
			] ({{langx\|ru\|«Заслон»}}) is a special forces unit in the SVR which was created by secret decree on 23 March 1997, and reached operational readiness in 1998. Units were deployed to the Russian embassies in Iraq at Baghdad,{{efn\|During the final days of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, Zaslon allegedly re-recruited Iraqi agents in foreign countries into Russian intelligence; provided embassy protection; removed the archives of Iraqi Intelligence, Iraqi counterintelligence, and Iraqi security servies; and was present to evacuate Russian diplomats, VIPs and documents to the Russian embassy at Tehran. Allegedly, Zaslon obtained documents which shed light on the volumes and channels by which Saddam financed pro Russia political parties and movements, as well as individual politicians. These documents would allow the Kremlin to manipulate pro Russia entities and individuals freely in the run-up to elections. If the pro Russia documents where in the hands of the Russian diplomats at its embassy in Baghdad with support from Zaslon, then the documents will already be on Russian territory if the situation in Baghdad deteriorated during the final days of Saddam Hussein's regime.<ref name=ZaslonNewsru>{{cite news \|url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/28mar2003/iraq2.html \|title=Спецотряды СВР "Заслон" прибыли в Багдад \|trans-title=SVR special forces "Zaslon" arrived in Baghdad \|language=ru \|work=newsru.com \|date=28 March 2003 \|access-date=25 September 2024 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905092412/http://www.newsru.com/russia/28mar2003/iraq2.html \|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref>}} Iran and Syria at Damascus{{efn\|Zaslon allegedly only reported to the Russian embassy in Damascus, Syria, located on Omar Ben Al-Khattab Street.<ref name=ZaslonGaleotti>{{cite web \|last=Galeotti \|first=Mark \|author-link=Mark Galeotti \|url=https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/russians-in-syria-zaslon-and-the-risks-of-going-native/ \|title=Russians In Syria, Zaslon, and the risks of going native \|work=In Moscow's Shadows \|date= \|access-date=25 September 2024 \|archive-date=25 September 2024 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240925194710/https://web.archive.org/web/20180307211554/https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/russians-in-syria-zaslon-and-the-risks-of-going-native/ \|url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>}} to support protection of diplomats and other tasks.<ref name=ZaslonGaleotti/><ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.phantomreport.com/the-slavonic-corps-russian-mercenaries-fighting-in-syria \|title=The Slavonic Corps – Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria \|work=Phantom Report \|date=16 November 2013 \|access-date=28 November 2023 \|archive-date=12 December 2013 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212220450/http://www.phantomreport.com/the-slavonic-corps-russian-mercenaries-fighting-in-syria}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/28mar2003/iraq2.html# \|title=Спецотряды СВР "Заслон" прибыли в Багдад \|trans-title=Special forces of the Foreign Intelligence Service "Zaslon" arrived in Baghdad \|language=ru \|work=News.ru \|date=28 March 2003 \|access-date=28 November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|url=https://vz.ru/news/2014/5/24/688286.html \|title=Рогозин опубликовал фото с бойцами «Заслона» в Сирии: Вице-премьер России Дмитрий Рогозин, находящийся с визитом в Дамаске, опубликовал в соцсетях фотографию с бойцами группы СВР «Заслон». \|trans-title=Rogozin published a photo with Zaslon fighters in Syria: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who is on a visit to Damascus, published a photo on social networks with fighters from the Zaslon SVR group. \|language=ru \|work=vz.ru \|date=24 May 2014 \|access-date=28 November 2023 \|archive-date=11 September 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911102455/https://vz.ru/news/2014/5/24/688286.html}}</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref>{{cite news \|last=Grove \|first=Thomas \|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-said-to-redeploy-special-ops-forces-from-ukraine-to-syria-1445636834 \|title=Russia Said to Redeploy Special-Ops Forces From Ukraine to Syria: Russian, Western officials say elite units being sent to support Assad forces \|work=] \|date=23 October 2013 \|access-date=25 September 2024 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20161217183243/http://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-said-to-redeploy-special-ops-forces-from-ukraine-to-syria-1445636834 \|archive-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> Zaslon was criticized following the ] in ] of ] who was the Russian ambassador to Turkey.<ref>{{cite news \|last=Виграйзер \|first=Александра (Vigraizer, Alexandra) \|url=https://lenta.ru/articles/2016/12/22/zaslon/ \|title=«Если все виноваты, то никто не виноват» Почему погибшего посла не охраняли: интервью бойца спецназа СВР «Заслон» \|trans-title="If everyone is guilty, then no one is guilty" Why the deceased ambassador was not guarded: interview with a fighter of the SVR special forces "Zaslon" \|language=ru \|work=«Лента.ру» \|date=22 December 2016 \|access-date=25 September 2024 \|archive-date=25 September 2024 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240925201743/https://lenta.ru/articles/2016/12/22/zaslon/ \|url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

			===Internet disinformation===
			According to senior SVR officer ], he often sent intelligence officers to branches of the ] where they gained access to the Internet without anyone knowing their identity. They placed ] and ] on educational websites and sent emails to US broadcasters.<ref name="Comrade J">Pete Earley, "Comrade J: The Untold Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America After the End of the Cold War", Penguin Books, 2007, {{ISBN\|978-0-399-15439-3}}, pages 194-195</ref> The articles or studies were generated by Russian experts who worked for the SVR.<ref name="Comrade J"/> The purpose of these ] was to whitewash ], create a positive image of Russia, promote ] and "to cause dissension and unrest inside the US".<ref name="Comrade J"/>

			==Recruitment==
			The SVR RF actively recruits Russian citizens who live in foreign countries.
			"Once the SVR officer targets a Russian émigré for recruitment, they approach them, usually at their place of residence and make an effort to reach an understanding," said former FSB officer ].<ref name="Litvinenko">{{cite web\|url=http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jid/jid021203_1_n.shtml\|title=Defence & Security Intelligence & Analysis - IHS Jane's 360\|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref>

			These claims have not been confirmed by the official SVR website, which states that only Russian citizens without dual citizenship can become SVR RF agents.

			Russian intelligence no longer recruits people on the basis of Communist ideals, which was the "first pillar" of KGB recruitment, said analyst ]. "The second pillar of recruitment is love for Russia. In the West, only Russian immigrants have feelings of filial obedience toward Russia. That’s precisely why works with them so often. A special division was created just for this purpose. It regularly holds Russian immigrant conferences, which ] is fond of attending."<ref name="Konstantin">, 27 January 2006</ref>

			==Notable Russian intelligence officers and agents==
			* February 1994: ] was charged with providing highly ] since April 1985 to the ] and then Russia. The information he passed led to the execution of at least 9 United States agents in Russia. In April, he and his wife pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit espionage and to evading taxes. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.<ref name="dss">{{Cite web
			\|url=http://www.dss.mil/training/espionage/Names.htm
			\|title=Espionage Cases 1975–2004
			\|access-date=19 February 2006
			\|author=Defense Personnel Security Research Center
			\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204232607/http://www.dss.mil/training/espionage/Names.htm
			\|archive-date=4 February 2006
			\|url-status=dead
			}}</ref>

			* November 1996: ] was arrested while attempting to take ] documents out of the United States. He began spying for Russia in 1994. He was a senior-ranking ] officer. In 1997, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison.<ref name="dss"/>
			* December 1996: ] was charged with providing ] documents to the Soviet Union and then Russia from 1987 until 1992. In 1997, he pleaded guilty to two counts of espionage and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.<ref name="dss"/>
			* June 2000: ], a naturalized US citizen of Russian parents, was arrested for spying for the ] and Russia since about 1969. Having retired as a colonel in the ], he was the highest-ranking military officer ever accused of spying. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref name="dss"/>
			* 1991: ] joined the SVR. However, Gruzdev stayed in the service for only two years.<ref name="ассоциация">{{cite web \|title=Груздев Владимир Сергеевич \|url=http://alrf.ru/blog/html5-blank/gruzdev-vladimir-sergeevich/ \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315063242/http://alrf.ru/blog/html5-blank/gruzdev-vladimir-sergeevich/ \|archive-date=2015-03-15 \|access-date=2017-04-08 \|publisher=Ассоциация юристов России}}</ref>
			* October 2000: ], an SVR officer working undercover at the Russian UN mission defected to the United States with his family.
			* February 2001: ] was arrested for spying for the Soviet Union and Russia for more than 15 years of his 27 years with the ]. He passed thousands of pages of classified documents on nuclear war defenses and ] and exposed three Russian agents of the United States, two of whom were tried and executed. He pleaded guilty to espionage and was sentenced to life in prison.<ref name="dss"/>
			* June 2010: With the breakup of known parts of the ], 10 individuals who allegedly carried on deep-cover espionage activities were arrested by ], and an eleventh was arrested while attempting to transit through Cyprus. These individuals were purportedly working for the SVR on long term covert assignments in penetrating policy making circles in the United States government. An agent going by the name of Christopher Metsos is still being sought by the authorities; the agents arrested on 28 June 2010 include Mikhail Semenko, Vladimir Guryev, Lidiya Guryev, Andrey Bezrukov, Yelena Vavilova, Mikhail Kutsik, Nataliya Pereverzeva, Mikhail Anatolyevich Vasenkov, Vicky Pelaez, and ].<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jun/29/fbi-breaks-up-alleged-russian-spy-ring-deep-cover\|title=FBI breaks up Russian spy ring in deep cover \|work=The Guardian\| location=UK\|date=29 June 2010 \| first=Chris \| last=McGreal}}<br />{{cite news \|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65R5OU20100628?type=domesticNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews\|title=U.S. arrests 10 for allegedly spying for Russia \|publisher=Reuters\|date=28 June 2010}}<br />{{cite news \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/world/europe/29spy.html\|title=US Charges 11 With Acting as Agents for Russia \|work=The New York Times\|date=28 June 2010 \| first1=Scott \| last1=Shane \| first2=Charlie \| last2=Savage}}<br />{{cite web \|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/06/a_network_of_ru.html\|title=Cambridge couple linked to alleged Russian spy network \|work=Boston Globe \|date=28 June 2010}}<br />{{cite news \|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/28/world/main6627737.shtml\|title=Who were the alleged spies working for \|work=CBS news\|date=28 June 2010}}</ref> A twelfth man, Alexey Karetnikov, was deported later. They were revealed by SVR ] Deputy Head of illegal spies, Colonel ].<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110627/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_us_spies \|title=Russian officer guilty of betraying spy ring in US - Yahoo! News \|access-date=28 June 2011 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630211533/http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110627/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_us_spies \|archive-date=30 June 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==
			{{div col}}
	*]
			* ]
	*]
			* ]
	*]
			* ]
	*]
	*]		* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]– American service with similar objectives
			* ]
			* ] (FSB)
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* '']''
			* ]
			{{div col end}}

	==~~External links~~==		==Notes==
			{{Notelist}}
	*, official homepage in Russian

			==References==
	]
			{{Reflist}}
	]
	]

			==External links==
	]
			* {{commonscatinline}}
	]
			* {{Official website\|http://svr.gov.ru/}} {{in lang\|ru}}
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

			{{Russian intelligence community}}
			{{External national intelligence agencies}}
			{{National intelligence agencies in Europe}}
			{{Government of the Russian Federation}}
			{{Russia topics}}
			{{Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}}
			{{Authority control}}

			]
	{{russia-stub}}
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 08:23, 18 December 2024

Russia's primary external intelligence agency

Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation
Agency overview
Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации
Emblem of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation
Flag of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation
Formed	December 1991; 33 years ago (1991-12)
Preceding agency	KGB First Chief Directorate
Jurisdiction	Russia
Headquarters	Yasenevo, Moscow, Russia 55°35′02″N 37°31′01″E / 55.584°N 37.517°E / 55.584; 37.517
Employees	Classified; estimated 13,000 in 2010
Annual budget	Classified
Minister responsible	Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
Agency executive	Sergey Naryshkin, Director
Child agency	Institute of Intelligence Information
Website	svr.gov.ru
Footnotes
Building details
Headquarters of the SVR in Moscow

The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (Russian: Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации, romanized: Sluzhba vneshney razvedki Rossiyskoy Federatsii, IPA: [ˈsluʐbə ˈvnʲɛʂnʲɪj rɐˈzvʲɛtkʲɪ]) or FIS RF (Russian: СВР РФ, romanized: SVR RF) is Russia's external intelligence agency, focusing mainly on civilian affairs. The SVR RF succeeded the First Chief Directorate (PGU) of the KGB in December 1991. The SVR has its headquarters in the Yasenevo District of Moscow with its director reporting directly to the President of the Russian Federation.

Unlike the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the SVR is tasked with intelligence and espionage activities outside the Russian Federation. It works together with the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (Russian: Главное разведывательное управление, romanized: Glavnoye razvedyvatel'noye upravleniye, IPA: [ˈglavnəjə rɐzˈvʲɛdɨvətʲɪlʲnəjə ʊprɐˈvlʲenʲɪjə], GRU), its military-joint affairs espionage counterpart, which reportedly deployed six times as many spies in foreign countries as the SVR in 1997. The SVR is also authorized to negotiate anti-terrorist cooperation and intelligence-sharing arrangements with foreign intelligence agencies, and provides analysis and dissemination of intelligence to the Russian president.

Any information pertaining to specific identities of staff employees (officers) of the SVR is legally classified as a state secret; since September 2018, the same applies to non-staff personnel (i.e., informers and recruited agents).

History

Main article: First Chief Directorate

SVR RF is the official foreign-operations successor to many prior Soviet-era foreign intelligence agencies, ranging from the original 'foreign department' of the Cheka under Vladimir Lenin, to the OGPU and NKVD of the Stalinist era, followed by the First Chief Directorate of the KGB.

Officially, the SVR RF dates its own beginnings to the founding of the Special Section of the Cheka on 20 December 1920. The head of the Cheka, Felix Dzerzhinsky, created the Foreign Department (Inostranny Otdel – INO) to improve the collection as well as the dissemination of foreign intelligence. On 6 February 1922, the Foreign Department of the Cheka became part of a renamed organization, the State Political Directorate, or GPU. The Foreign Department was placed in charge of intelligence activities overseas, including collection of important intelligence from foreign countries and the liquidation of defectors, emigres, and other assorted 'enemies of the people'. In 1922, after the creation of the State Political Directorate (GPU) and its merger with the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs of the RSFSR, foreign intelligence was conducted by the GPU Foreign Department, and between December 1923 and July 1934 by the Foreign Department of Joint State Political Administration or OGPU. In July 1934, the OGPU was reincorporated into the NKVD. In 1954, the NKVD in turn became the KGB, which in 1991 became SVR and FSB.

In 1996, the SVR RF issued a CD-ROM entitled Russian Foreign Intelligence: VChK–KGB–SVR, which claims to provide "a professional view on the history and development of one of the most powerful secret services in the world" where all services are presented as one evolving organization.

Former Director of the SVR RF Sergei Lebedev stated "there has not been any place on the planet where a KGB officer has not been". During their 80th anniversary celebration, Vladimir Putin went to SVR headquarters to meet with other former KGB/SVR chiefs Vladimir Kryuchkov, Leonid Shebarshin, Yevgeny Primakov, and Vyacheslav Trubnikov, as well as other agents, including the British double agent and ex-Soviet spy George Blake.

Legal authority

The "Law on Foreign Intelligence" was written by the SVR leadership itself and adopted in August 1992. This Law provided conditions for "penetration by checkists of all levels of the government and economy", since it stipulated that "career personnel may occupy positions in ministries, departments, establishments, enterprises and organizations in accordance with the requirements of this law without compromising their association with foreign intelligence agencies."

A new "Law on Foreign Intelligence Organs" was passed by the State Duma and the Federation Council in late 1995 and signed into effect by the then-President Boris Yeltsin on 10 January 1996. The law authorizes the SVR to carry out the following:

Conduct intelligence;
Implement active measures to ensure Russia's security;
Conduct military, strategic, economic, scientific and technological espionage;
Protect employees of Russian institutions overseas and their families;
Provide personal security for Russian government officials and their families;
Conduct joint operations with foreign security services;
Conduct electronic surveillance in foreign countries.

The SVR sends to the Russian president daily digests of intelligence, similar to the President's Daily Brief produced by the United States Intelligence Community in the US. However, unlike in the US, the SVR recommends to the president which policy options are preferable.

Since 2012, the President of the Russian Federation can personally issue any secret orders to the SVR RF without consulting the parliament of national legislature, the Federal Assembly, which consists of the State Duma and Federation Council.

Command structure

According to Article 12 of the 1996 Federal Law "On Foreign Intelligence", "overall direction" of external intelligence activity is executed by the president of Russia, who appoints the Director of the SVR.

The director provides regular briefings to the president. The director is a permanent member of the Security Council of Russia and the Defense Council.

According to published sources, the SVR included the following directorates in the 1990s:

Directorate PR: Political Intelligence: Included seventeen departments, each responsible for different countries of the world (espionage in the US, Canada, Latin America, etc.)
Directorate S: Illegal Intelligence: Included thirteen departments responsible for preparing and planting "illegal agents" abroad, "biological espionage", recruitment of foreign citizens on the Russian territory and other duties.
Directorate X: Scientific and Technical Intelligence
Directorate KR: External Counter-Intelligence: This Directorate "carries out infiltration of foreign intelligence and security services and exercises surveillance over Russian citizens abroad."
Directorate OT: Operational and Technical Support
Directorate R: Operational Planning and Analysis: Evaluates SVR operations abroad.
Directorate I: Computer Service (Information and Dissemination): Analyzes and distributes intelligence data and publishes a daily current events summaries for the president.
Directorate of Economic Intelligence

According to the SVR RF web site, the organization currently consists of a director, a first deputy director (who oversees the directions for Foreign Counterintelligence and Economic Intelligence) and the following departments:

Personnel;
Operations;
Analysis & Information (formerly Intelligence Institute);
Science;
Operational Logistics & Support.

Each directorate is headed by a deputy director who reports to the SVR Director. The Red Banner Intelligence Academy has been renamed the Academy of Foreign Intelligence (ABP are its Russian initials) and is housed in the Science Directorate.

Involvement in Russian foreign policy

During Boris Yeltsin's presidency, the SVR conflicted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for directing Russian foreign policy. SVR director Yevgeni Primakov upstaged the foreign ministry by publishing warnings to the West not to interfere in the unification of Russia with other former Soviet republics and attacking the NATO extension as a threat to Russian security, whereas foreign minister Andrey Kozyrev was requesting different things. The rivalry ended in decisive victory for the SVR, when Primakov replaced Kozyrev in January 1996 and brought with him a number of SVR officers to the foreign ministry of Russia.

In September 1999, Yeltsin admitted that the SVR played a greater role in Russian foreign policy than the Foreign Ministry. It was reported that the SVR defined the Russian position on the transfer of nuclear technologies to Iran, NATO expansion, and modification of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The SVR also tried to justify annexation of the Baltic states by the Soviet Union in World War II using selectively declassified documents.

Sanctions

Sanctioned in May 2023 by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Operations

Espionage

From the end of the 1980s, KGB and later SVR began to create "a second echelon" of "auxiliary agents in addition to our main weapons, illegals and special agents", according to former SVR officer Kouzminov. These agents are legal immigrants, including scientists and other professionals. Another SVR officer who defected to Britain in 1996 described several thousand Russian agents and intelligence officers, some of them "illegals" who live under deep cover abroad.

Between 1994 and 2001, high-profile cases of Americans working as sources ('spies') for Russian agencies included those of Aldrich Hazen Ames, Harold James Nicholson, Earl Edwin Pitts, Robert Philip Hanssen and George Trofimoff. They would be considered double agents because they were working for American intelligence agencies while providing information to Russia. They were not Russian 'illegals' however, because they were American citizens.

Cooperation with foreign intelligence services

An agreement on intelligence cooperation between Russia and China was signed in 1992. This secret treaty covers cooperation of the GRU GSh VS RF and the SVR RF with the China's Intelligence Bureau of the Joint Staff Department. In 2003 it was reported that SVR RF trained Iraqi spies when Russia collaborated with Saddam Hussein. The SVR also has cooperation agreements with the secret police services of certain former Soviet republics, such as Azerbaijan and Belarus.

Assassinations abroad

"In the Soviet era, the SVR – then part of the KGB – handled covert political assassinations abroad". These activities reportedly continue. It was reported in September 2003 that an SVR RF agent in London was making preparations to assassinate Boris Berezovsky with a binary weapon, which is why Berezovsky had been speedily granted asylum in Britain. GRU officers who killed Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev in Qatar in 2004 reportedly claimed that supporting SVR agents let them down by not evacuating them in time, so they have been arrested by Qatar authorities.

Former KGB agent Igor the Assassin, who is believed to have been the poisoner of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, was allegedly an SVR officer. However, SVR denied involvement in the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. An SVR spokesperson queried over Litvinenko remarked: "May God give him health." The SVR was reportedly involved in the likely assassination of Maxim Kuzminov.

Special Operations Department of the SVR "Zaslon"

Zaslon (Russian: «Заслон») is a special forces unit in the SVR which was created by secret decree on 23 March 1997, and reached operational readiness in 1998. Units were deployed to the Russian embassies in Iraq at Baghdad, Iran and Syria at Damascus to support protection of diplomats and other tasks. Zaslon was criticized following the 19 December 2016 assassination in Ankara of Andrei Karlov who was the Russian ambassador to Turkey.

Internet disinformation

According to senior SVR officer Sergei Tretyakov, he often sent intelligence officers to branches of the New York Public Library where they gained access to the Internet without anyone knowing their identity. They placed propaganda and disinformation on educational websites and sent emails to US broadcasters. The articles or studies were generated by Russian experts who worked for the SVR. The purpose of these active measures was to whitewash Russian foreign policy, create a positive image of Russia, promote anti-American feelings and "to cause dissension and unrest inside the US".

Recruitment

The SVR RF actively recruits Russian citizens who live in foreign countries. "Once the SVR officer targets a Russian émigré for recruitment, they approach them, usually at their place of residence and make an effort to reach an understanding," said former FSB officer Aleksander Litvinenko.

These claims have not been confirmed by the official SVR website, which states that only Russian citizens without dual citizenship can become SVR RF agents.

Russian intelligence no longer recruits people on the basis of Communist ideals, which was the "first pillar" of KGB recruitment, said analyst Konstantin Preobrazhenskiy. "The second pillar of recruitment is love for Russia. In the West, only Russian immigrants have feelings of filial obedience toward Russia. That’s precisely why works with them so often. A special division was created just for this purpose. It regularly holds Russian immigrant conferences, which Putin is fond of attending."

Notable Russian intelligence officers and agents

February 1994: Aldrich Hazen Ames was charged with providing highly classified information since April 1985 to the Soviet Union and then Russia. The information he passed led to the execution of at least 9 United States agents in Russia. In April, he and his wife pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit espionage and to evading taxes. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

November 1996: Harold James Nicholson was arrested while attempting to take top secret documents out of the United States. He began spying for Russia in 1994. He was a senior-ranking Central Intelligence Agency officer. In 1997, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison.
December 1996: Earl Edwin Pitts was charged with providing top secret documents to the Soviet Union and then Russia from 1987 until 1992. In 1997, he pleaded guilty to two counts of espionage and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
June 2000: George Trofimoff, a naturalized US citizen of Russian parents, was arrested for spying for the Soviet Union and Russia since about 1969. Having retired as a colonel in the United States Army Reserve, he was the highest-ranking military officer ever accused of spying. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
1991: Vladimir Gruzdev joined the SVR. However, Gruzdev stayed in the service for only two years.
October 2000: Sergei Tretyakov, an SVR officer working undercover at the Russian UN mission defected to the United States with his family.
February 2001: Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested for spying for the Soviet Union and Russia for more than 15 years of his 27 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He passed thousands of pages of classified documents on nuclear war defenses and Sensitive Compartmented Information and exposed three Russian agents of the United States, two of whom were tried and executed. He pleaded guilty to espionage and was sentenced to life in prison.
June 2010: With the breakup of known parts of the Illegals Program, 10 individuals who allegedly carried on deep-cover espionage activities were arrested by FBI, and an eleventh was arrested while attempting to transit through Cyprus. These individuals were purportedly working for the SVR on long term covert assignments in penetrating policy making circles in the United States government. An agent going by the name of Christopher Metsos is still being sought by the authorities; the agents arrested on 28 June 2010 include Mikhail Semenko, Vladimir Guryev, Lidiya Guryev, Andrey Bezrukov, Yelena Vavilova, Mikhail Kutsik, Nataliya Pereverzeva, Mikhail Anatolyevich Vasenkov, Vicky Pelaez, and Anna Chapman. A twelfth man, Alexey Karetnikov, was deported later. They were revealed by SVR defector Deputy Head of illegal spies, Colonel Alexander Poteyev.

Notes

During the final days of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship, Zaslon allegedly re-recruited Iraqi agents in foreign countries into Russian intelligence; provided embassy protection; removed the archives of Iraqi Intelligence, Iraqi counterintelligence, and Iraqi security servies; and was present to evacuate Russian diplomats, VIPs and documents to the Russian embassy at Tehran. Allegedly, Zaslon obtained documents which shed light on the volumes and channels by which Saddam financed pro Russia political parties and movements, as well as individual politicians. These documents would allow the Kremlin to manipulate pro Russia entities and individuals freely in the run-up to elections. If the pro Russia documents where in the hands of the Russian diplomats at its embassy in Baghdad with support from Zaslon, then the documents will already be on Russian territory if the situation in Baghdad deteriorated during the final days of Saddam Hussein's regime.
Zaslon allegedly only reported to the Russian embassy in Damascus, Syria, located on Omar Ben Al-Khattab Street.

References

"Profile: Russia's SVR intelligence agency". BBC News. 29 June 2010.
^ The Security Organs of the Russian Federation: A Brief History 1991–2004 by Jonathan Littell, Psan Publishing House 2006.
"The Jamestown Foundation". Archived from the original on 25 November 2006.
^ Vasili Mitrokhin and Christopher Andrew (2000). The Mitrokhin Archive: The KGB in Europe and the West. Gardners Books. ISBN 0-14-028487-7.
Путин засекретил и сделал гостайной данные о всех "внештатниках" Службы внешней разведки (СВР) NEWSru 4 September 2018.
National Counterintelligence and Security Center (September 2011). Rafalko, Frank J. (ed.). A Counterintelligence Reader, Volume IV: American Revolution into the New Millenium (PDF). National Counterintelligence and Security Center. ISBN 9781780392318 – via Federation of American Scientists.
The HUMINT Offensive from Putin's Checkist State Anderson, Julie (2007), International Journal of Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence, 20:2, 258 – 316
"Федеральный закон "О внешней разведке"". svr.gov.ru.
"SVR Organization - Russia / Soviet Intelligence Agencies". Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
^ Alexander Kouzminov, Biological Espionage: Special Operations of the Soviet and Russian Foreign Intelligence Services in the West, Greenhill Books, 2006, ISBN 1-85367-646-2.
"Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации". Retrieved 16 May 2016.
Whither Russian foreign intelligence? By Victor Yasmann, Asia Times, 6 June 2000
"With Over 300 Sanctions, U.S. Targets Russia's Circumvention and Evasion, Military-Industrial Supply Chains, and Future Energy Revenues". 19 May 2023.
^ "PDF volume about SVR espionage activities" (PDF). Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007.
Robert Collier; Bill Wallace (17 April 2003). "Russia now admits training Iraqi spies / But it says intent was to fight crime, terror". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
"Iraq's Russian Arms Buyer Headed Germ Warfare Program; Russian Spies Unmasked in London Financial System". AFPC.org. Archived from the original on 7 June 2007.
Alex Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko. Death of a dissident: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB, The Free Press (2007) ISBN 1-4165-5165-4
"Russian Agency 'Led Poison Plot'". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
"Independent Online (South Africa)". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/20/spain-russia-ukraine-kuminov-assassination-defector/
Schwirtz, Michael; Méheut, Constant (20 February 2024). "Russian Pilot Who Defected to Ukraine Is Believed Dead in Spain". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
"Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine shot dead in Spain - reports". Reuters. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
"Спецотряды СВР "Заслон" прибыли в Багдад" [SVR special forces "Zaslon" arrived in Baghdad]. newsru.com (in Russian). 28 March 2003. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
^ Galeotti, Mark. "Russians In Syria, Zaslon, and the risks of going native". In Moscow's Shadows. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
"The Slavonic Corps – Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria". Phantom Report. 16 November 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
"Спецотряды СВР "Заслон" прибыли в Багдад" [Special forces of the Foreign Intelligence Service "Zaslon" arrived in Baghdad]. News.ru (in Russian). 28 March 2003. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
"Рогозин опубликовал фото с бойцами «Заслона» в Сирии: Вице-премьер России Дмитрий Рогозин, находящийся с визитом в Дамаске, опубликовал в соцсетях фотографию с бойцами группы СВР «Заслон»" [Rogozin published a photo with Zaslon fighters in Syria: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who is on a visit to Damascus, published a photo on social networks with fighters from the Zaslon SVR group.]. vz.ru (in Russian). 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
Центр специального назначения СВР: Седьмой отдел Центра внутренней безопасности СВР или отряд спецназначения Заслон
«Заслон»: на что способен самый секретный спецназ России
Grove, Thomas (23 October 2013). "Russia Said to Redeploy Special-Ops Forces From Ukraine to Syria: Russian, Western officials say elite units being sent to support Assad forces". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
Виграйзер, Александра (Vigraizer, Alexandra) (22 December 2016). "«Если все виноваты, то никто не виноват» Почему погибшего посла не охраняли: интервью бойца спецназа СВР «Заслон»" ["If everyone is guilty, then no one is guilty" Why the deceased ambassador was not guarded: interview with a fighter of the SVR special forces "Zaslon"]. «Лента.ру» (in Russian). Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Pete Earley, "Comrade J: The Untold Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America After the End of the Cold War", Penguin Books, 2007, ISBN 978-0-399-15439-3, pages 194-195
"Defence & Security Intelligence & Analysis - IHS Jane's 360". Retrieved 16 May 2016.
Interview with Konstantin Preobrazhensky , 27 January 2006
^ Defense Personnel Security Research Center. "Espionage Cases 1975–2004". Archived from the original on 4 February 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2006.
"Груздев Владимир Сергеевич". Ассоциация юристов России. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
McGreal, Chris (29 June 2010). "FBI breaks up Russian spy ring in deep cover". The Guardian. UK.
"U.S. arrests 10 for allegedly spying for Russia". Reuters. 28 June 2010.
Shane, Scott; Savage, Charlie (28 June 2010). "US Charges 11 With Acting as Agents for Russia". The New York Times.
"Cambridge couple linked to alleged Russian spy network". Boston Globe. 28 June 2010.
"Who were the alleged spies working for". CBS news. 28 June 2010.
"Russian officer guilty of betraying spy ring in US - Yahoo! News". Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.

External links

Media related to Foreign Intelligence Service at Wikimedia Commons
Official website (in Russian)

v t e Russian Intelligence Community
Federal Security Service (FSB) Department of Counterintelligence Operations (DKRO) Federal Protective Service (FSO) Special Communications and Information Service Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)

v t e National intelligence agencies
Foreign intelligence	Afghanistan: GDI Albania: SHISH Algeria: DRS Angola: SIE Argentina: SIDE Armenia: NSS Austria: DSN Australia: ASIS Azerbaijan: XKX Bahrain: NSA Bangladesh: NSI Belarus: KGB RB Belgium: ADIV/SGRS Bosnia and Herzegovina: OSA-OBA Botswana: DIS Brazil: ABIN Brunei: BRD Bulgaria: DAR Cameroon: BMM Canada: CSIS Chad: ANS Chile: ANI China: MSS Congo (Democratic Republic of): ANR Croatia: SOA Cuba: DI Czech Republic: ÚZSI Denmark: FE Djibouti: BSRG Ecuador: SENAIN Egypt: Mukhabarat Estonia: EFIS Ethiopia: NISS France: DGSE Gambia: SIS Georgia: GIS Germany: BND Ghana: BNI, BGU, RDU Greece: EYP Hungary: IH India: RAW Indonesia: BIN Iran: VAJA Iraq: INIS Ireland: G2 Israel: Mossad Italy: AISE Ivory Coast: NSC Japan: CIRO Jordan: GID Kazakhstan: Syrbar Kenya: NIS Kyrgyzstan: UKMK Kuwait: KSS Latvia: SAB Liberia: NSA Lithuania: VSD Lebanon: GDGS Libya: MJ Malaysia: MEIO Mexico: CISEN Moldova: SIS Mongolia: GIA Montenegro: ANB Morocco: DGED Mozambique: SISE Netherlands: AIVD New Zealand: NZSIS Nigeria: NIA North Korea: RGB Republic of North Macedonia: ANB Norway: E-tjenesten Oman: Palace Office Pakistan: ISI Palestine: GIS Papua New Guinea: NIO Philippines: NICA Poland: AW Portugal: SIED Qatar: QSS Romania: SIE Russia: SVR Saudi Arabia: GIP Serbia: BIA Sierra Leone: CISU Singapore: SID Slovakia: SIS Slovenia: SOVA Somalia: NISA South Africa: SSA South Korea: NIS Spain: CNI Sri Lanka: SIS Sudan: GIS Sweden: KSI Switzerland: NDB Syria: GSD Taiwan: NSB Tajikistan: GKNB Tanzania: TISS Thailand: NIA Togo: NIA Tunisia: TIA Turkey: MİT Turkmenistan: MNS Uganda: ESO Ukraine: SZRU United Arab Emirates: SIA United Kingdom: SIS (MI6) United States: CIA Uzbekistan: SSS Vietnam: TC2
Domestic intelligence	Algeria: CSS Angola: SINSE Argentina: SIDE Armenia: NSS Australia: ASIO Austria: DSN Azerbaijan: DTX Bangladesh: SB Belarus: KGB RB Belgium: VS/SE Bosnia and Herzegovina: SIPA Botswana: DIS Brazil: PF Brunei: IRD Bulgaria: DANS Burundi: SNR Canada: CSIS Chile: ANI China: MSS Colombia: DNI Congo (Democratic Republic of): ANR Croatia: SOA Czech Republic: BIS Denmark: PET Egypt: EHS Estonia: KAPO Finland: SUPO France: DGSI Georgia: SSSG Germany: BfV, LfV Ghana: GPS, CID Greece: EYP Hong Kong: NSD, CPGNSO Hungary: AH India: IB Indonesia: Baintelkam Polri (id), BIN Iran: VAJA, IRGC, PAVA Ireland: CSB, SDU, NSU Israel: Shin Bet Italy: AISI Japan: NPA, TMPD PSB, PSIA Kazakhstan: NSC Kenya: NIS Kosovo: AKI Latvia: VDD Lithuania: STT Lebanon: ISF IB, LSS Luxembourg: SREL Macau: DS Malaysia: SB Moldova: SIS Morocco: DGST Netherlands: NCTV New Zealand: NZSIS Nigeria: SSS North Korea: SSD Republic of North Macedonia: IA Norway: PST Oman: ISS Pakistan: IB, FIA Palestine: PPS Paraguay: SNI Peru: DINI Philippines: NBI, NICA Poland: ABW, SOP, SM Portugal: SIS Romania: SRI Russia: FSB Saudi Arabia: Mabahith Serbia: BIA Singapore: ISD Somalia: NISA South Africa: SSA South Korea: Intelligence Bureau, KNPA Spain: CITCO Sri Lanka: SIS Sweden: SÄPO Switzerland: NDB Syria: GSD Taiwan: MJIB Thailand: ISOC, SB Togo: ANR Turkey: MİT, İB Uganda: ISO Ukraine: SBU United Kingdom: Security Service (MI5), NDEDIU, NCA, NBIS United States: I&A, FBI Uzbekistan: SNB Venezuela: SEBIN Vietnam: TC5 (vi) Zimbabwe: CIO
Military intelligence	Algeria: DCSA Angola: SIM Australia: DIO Austria: HNaA Bangladesh: DGFI Belarus: GRU MO RB Belgium: ADIV/SGRS Brazil: DIE Canada: CFINTCOM China: CMC JSD Intelligence Bureau Congo (Democratic Republic of): DEMIAP Croatia: VSOA Cuba: DCIM Czech Republic: VZ Denmark: FE Egypt: DMISR Finland: PE TIEDOS France: DRM, DGSE Germany: MAD Ghana: MIU Hungary: KNBSZ Iran: General Staff, SAHEFAJA, SAHEFASA, SAHEFAVEDJA India: DMI, DIA Indonesia: BAIS TNI, Pusintelad Ireland: G2 Israel: Aman Italy: CII Japan: DIH Kazakhstan: NSC Lithuania: AOTD Malaysia: DIO Maldives: MNDF Morocco: DB Myanmar: Sa Ya Pa Netherlands: MIVD New Zealand: DDIS Nigeria: DIA North Korea: RGB Republic of North Macedonia: MSSI Norway: E-tjenesten Pakistan: MI, NI, AI Palestine: MIS Philippines: ISAFP Poland: SKW, SWW Portugal: CISMIL Romania: DGIA Russia: GRU Saudi Arabia: AFISC Serbia: VBA, VOA Singapore: MIO Slovakia: VS Slovenia: OVS South Africa: SANDF-ID South Korea: DIA, DCC Spain: CIFAS Sri Lanka: DMI Sweden: MUST Switzerland: MND, LWND Syria: MI, AFID Taiwan: MIB Thailand: AFSC Turkey: GENKUR İ.D.B. Ukraine: HUR MO United Kingdom: DI United States: DIA ONI MIC USAFI Venezuela: DGCIM Vietnam: TC2
Signals intelligence	Australia: ASD Bangladesh: NTMC Brazil: 2ª Sch/EMD Canada: CSE China: SIGINT Croatia: OTC Ethiopia: INSA Finland: PVTIEDL France: DGSE, DRSD Germany: BND Ghana: RDU India: JCB, NTRO Indonesia: BSSN (id) Ireland: CIS Israel: 8200 Japan: DIH Kazakhstan: NSC Netherlands: NSO, JSCU New Zealand: GCSB North Korea: RGB Norway: NSM Pakistan: JSIB Poland: AW, ABW, SKW, SWW, NCBC, gOR 3.FO, CRiWWRE, 2.ORel, 6.ORel, JW NIL Romania: STS Russia: Spetssvyaz Saudi Arabia: PSS South Africa: SSA Spain: CCN Sweden: FRA Switzerland: NDB Syria: MI Turkey: MİT-SİB UAE: SIA Ukraine: Derzhspetszviazok United Kingdom: GCHQ United States: NSA
Imagery intelligence	Australia: AGO Finland: PVTIEDL India: DAI Indonesia: BIG Israel: Air Intelligence Group Malaysia: MaCGDI New Zealand: GEOINT NZ Poland: AW, SWW, ORO, 12.BBSP, JW NIL Pakistan: Air Intelligence Philippines: NMARSC Portugal: CIGeoE Russia: TsVTI GRU United Kingdom: DGIFC United States: NGA
Financial intelligence	Argentina: UIF Australia: AUSTRAC Azerbaijan: MMX Bangladesh: FIU Brazil: COAF Canada: FINTRAC Fiji: FIU France: Tracfin, DNRED Iceland: SR India: CEIB Indonesia: PPATK Ireland: GNECB Italy: UIF Lithuania (FNTT) Malta: FIAU Mexico: UIF Netherlands: FIOD Poland: GIIF, SCS, CBA Qatar: FIU Russia: Rosfinmonitoring Saudi Arabia: GDOFI Spain: SVA, SEPBLAC Turkey: MASAK United Kingdom: NCA United States: TFI, FinCEN Vatican: ASIF
Criminal intelligence	Argentina: DNIC Australia: ACIC Bangladesh: CID Canada: CISC Finland: NBI India: CBI Indonesia: Baintelkam Polri (id) Italy: DIA, DIGOS Philippines: NBI, PNP-IG Poland: BWiIK KGP, CBŚP, ZOŚ KGSG, ZK KGŻW Romania: DGPI South Africa: Crime Intelligence Division Spain: CGI, SIGC, CGPJ, UCO United Kingdom: NCA
Intelligence community	Australia Bangladesh Croatia France India Israel Italy New Zealand Pakistan Russia United Kingdom United States
Intelligence alliances	Club de Berne Five Eyes Maximator Egmont Group
Defunct agencies	Imperial Japan: Tokko Ming Dynasty: Embroidered Uniform Guard, Eastern Depot, Western Depot [zh], Internal Depot [zh] Nazi Germany: Gestapo, Sicherheitsdienst Soviet Union: NKVD, KGB United Kingdom: DMI Yugoslavia: KOS
Related topics	Espionage (List of intelligence agencies) Leaks Diplomatic cable leaks NSA leaks CIA leaks Great Firewall of China Mass surveillance in China Law enforcement Interpol Security agency Surveillance Big Brother Call detail record Carnivore Dishfire ECHELON PRISM Stone Ghost Turbulence (NSA programme) National security Surveillance issues in smart cities
Border guard Coast guard Customs Law enforcement agency Types Intelligence agency

v t e National intelligence agencies in Europe
Foreign intelligence	Albania (SHISH) Armenia (NSS) Austria (DSN) Azerbaijan (XKX) Belarus (KGB RB) Belgium (ADIV/SGRS) Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSA-OBA) Bulgaria (DAR) Croatia (SOA) Czech Republic (ÚZSI) Denmark (FE) Estonia (EFIS) France (DGSE) Georgia (GIS) Germany (BND) Greece (EYP) Hungary (IH) Ireland (CSB) Italy (AISE) Kazakhstan (Syrbar) Latvia (SAB) Lithuania (VSD) Moldova (SIS) Montenegro (ANB) Republic of North Macedonia (UBK) Netherlands (AIVD) Norway (E-tjenesten) Poland (AW) Portugal (SIED) Romania (SIE) Russia (SVR) Serbia (BIA) Slovakia (SIS) Slovenia (SOVA) Spain (CNI) Sweden (KSI) Switzerland (NDB) Turkey (MİT) Ukraine (SZRU) United Kingdom (SIS (MI6))
Domestic intelligence	Austria (DSN) Azerbaijan (DTX) Belarus (KGB RB) Belgium (VS/SE) Bosnia and Herzegovina (SIPA) Bulgaria (DANS) Croatia (SOA) Czech Republic (BIS) Denmark (PET) Estonia (KAPO) Finland (Supo) France (DGSI) Georgia (SSSG) Germany (BfV, LfV) Greece (EYP) Hungary (AH) Ireland (SDU, NSU) Italy (AISI) Kazakhstan (NSC) Kosovo (AKI) Latvia (VDD) Lithuania (STT) Luxembourg (SREL) Moldova (SIS) Republic of North Macedonia (IA) Netherlands (NCTV) Norway (PST) Poland (ABW, SOP) Portugal (SIS) Romania (SRI) Russia (FSB) Serbia (BIA) Spain (CITCO) Sweden (SÄPO) Switzerland (NDB) Turkey (KDGM) Ukraine (SBU) United Kingdom (MI5, NDEDIU, NCA, NBIS)
Military intelligence	Austria (HNaA) Belarus (GRU MO RB) Belgium (ADIV/SGRS) Croatia (VSOA) Czech Republic (VZ) Denmark (FE) Finland (PE TIEDOS) France (DRM, DGSE) Germany (MAD) Greece (EYP) Hungary (KNBSZ) Ireland ((G2) Italy (CII) Kazakhstan (NSC) Lithuania (AOTD) Republic of North Macedonia (MSSI) Netherlands (MIVD) Norway (E-tjenesten) Poland (SKW, SWW) Portugal (CISMIL) Romania (DGIA) Russia (GRU) Serbia (VOA, VBA) Slovakia (VS) Slovenia (OVS) Spain (CIFAS) Sweden (MUST) Switzerland (MND, LWND) Turkey (GENKUR İ.D.B.) Ukraine (HUR MO) United Kingdom (DIS)
Signals intelligence	Croatia (OTC) Finland (PVTIEDL) France (DGSE, DRSD) Germany (BND) Greece (EYP) Ireland ((CIS) Kazakhstan (NSC) Netherlands (JSCU) Norway (NSM) Poland (AW, ABW, SKW, SWW, NCBC, gOR 3.FO, CRiWWRE, 2.ORel, 6.ORel, JW NIL) Romania (STS) Russia (Spetssvyaz) Spain (CCN) Sweden (FRA) Switzerland (SIS) Turkey (MİT-SİB) Ukraine (State Special Communications Service of Ukraine) United Kingdom (GCHQ)
Imagery intelligence	Finland (PVTIEDL) Poland (AW, SWW, ORO, 12.BBSP, JW NIL) Portugal (CIGeoE) Russia (TsVTI GRU) United Kingdom (DGIFC)
Financial intelligence	Azerbaijan (MMX) France (Tracfin, DNRED) Netherlands (FIOD) Iceland (SR) Ireland (GNECB) Italy (UIF) Lithuania (FNTT) Malta (FIAU) Poland (GIIF, SCS, CBA) Russia (Rosfinmonitoring) Spain (SVA, SEPBLAC) Turkey (MASAK) United Kingdom (NCA) Vatican (ASIF)
Criminal intelligence	Finland ( National Bureau of Investigation) Italy (DIA, DIGOS) Romania (DGPI) Poland (BWiIK KGP, CBŚP, ZOŚ KGSG, ZK KGŻW) Spain (CGI, SIGC, CGPJ, UCO) United Kingdom (NCA)

v t e Government of the Russian Federation
Offices subordinated to the President of Russia
Ministry of Internal Affairs	Police of the Russian Federation
Ministry for Affairs of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief	Russian State Fire Service
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation
Ministry of Defence	Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation Federal Service for Technical and Export Control
Ministry of Justice	Federal Penitentiary Service Federal Bailiff Service
Presidential Services and Directorates	Foreign Intelligence Service Federal Security Service Federal Protective Service Special Communications Service State Courier Service Main Directorate of Special Programs of the President Federal Financial Monitoring Directorate of the President National Guard of Russia Security Council of Russia Federal Archival Agency
Offices subordinated to the Government of Russia, headed by the Prime Minister of Russia
Ministry of Health	Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment	Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Federal Agency of Water Resources Federal Agency for Mineral Resources Federal Agency for Forestry
Ministry of Industry and Trade	Federal Technical Regulation and Metrology Agency
Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities
Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic
Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media	Federal Communications Agency Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media
Ministry of Agriculture	Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision Federal Agency for Fishery
Ministry of Sport
Ministry of Transport	Federal Service for Supervision of Transport Federal Air Transport Agency Federal Road Agency Federal Rail Transport Agency Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transportation
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs	Federal Service for Labour and Employment
Ministry of Finance	Federal Agency for State Property Management Federal Customs Service Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation Federal Tax Service Federal Treasury
Ministry of Economic Development	Federal State Statistics Service Federal Accreditation Service Federal Service for Intellectual Property
Ministry of Energy	Federal Energy Agency
Ministry of Science and Higher Education
Governmental committees, services and agencies	Federal Medical-Biological Agency Federal Antimonopoly Service Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs Federal Agency for State Reserves Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science

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Outline

v t e Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
Events	DNC cyber attacks GRU Fancy Bear Guccifer 2.0 SVR RF Cozy Bear DCCC cyber attacks Leaks DNC email leak Podesta emails WikiLeaks DCLeaks Pizzagate conspiracy theory Social media IRA Cambridge Analytica Fake news websites Russia and BLM
Timelines	Topical before July 2016 July 2016 – election day Transition Jan–Jun 2017 Jul–Dec 2017 Jan–Jun 2018 Jul–Dec 2018 Jan–Jun 2019 Jul–Dec 2019 2020–2022 Timelines related to Donald Trump and Russian interference in United States elections
Post-election events	Steele dossier Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections Dismissal of James Comey Crossfire Hurricane Russia investigation origins counter-narrative Durham special counsel investigation Mueller special counsel investigation Legal teams list of charges United States v. Flynn Trials of Paul Manafort Mueller report Barr letter Links between Trump associates and Russia Trump business projects in Russia Trump Tower Moscow Trump Tower meeting Reactions Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act Nunes memo Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal DNC lawsuit 2018 interference Senate Intelligence Committee report 2020 interference Vulkan files leak Kremlin papers
Related	Active measures Russian disinformation Cyberwarfare by Russia Russian web brigades Propaganda in Russia Russian espionage in the United States The Plot to Hack America (2016) Trump: The Kremlin Candidate? (2017) Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President (2018) Russian Roulette (2018) Intelligence and Security Committee report Russian interference in British politics 2016 Brexit referendum 2017 Macron e-mail leaks Russian interference in European politics

Categories:

Latest revision as of 08:23, 18 December 2024

History

Legal authority

Command structure

Involvement in Russian foreign policy

Sanctions

Operations

Espionage

Cooperation with foreign intelligence services

Assassinations abroad

Special Operations Department of the SVR "Zaslon"

Internet disinformation

Recruitment

Notable Russian intelligence officers and agents

See also

Notes

References

External links