Since the onset of the conflict against Ukraine, the operations of Russian special services have undergone a major transformation. The expulsion of numerous spies, accredited as diplomats in various countries, has dealt a severe blow to Moscow. According to German experts, Russian intelligence has now pivoted towards utilizing so-called “traveling agents.”
In a notable shift, Germany expelled a total of 40 Russian diplomats in 2022, followed by another 30 the subsequent year. This move forced Russia to shutter its consulates in Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Leipzig, leaving only the embassy in Berlin and the consulate general in Bonn operational, as reported by German media.
Reports from WDR, NDR, and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” indicate that around 20 spies continue to operate as accredited diplomats in Germany, a significant reduction from the approximately 100 before the Ukraine war. “The German counter-intelligence estimates that up to one-third of the Russian diplomatic staff are actually agents,” Tagesschau, a German television news service, stated.
Agents with forged biographies
In some instances, Russia is reportedly attempting to replace the expelled diplomats with spies previously stationed in African embassies. Dutch intelligence services have recently warned that agents with fabricated biographies are being dispatched as businessmen. Russian spies are also said to be more active in Turkey, Dubai, and North Africa. There are also suspicions that Moscow is collaborating with organized crime.
The Russian Consulate General in Bonn is speculated to play a special role in espionage activities, with a significant part of the defense ministry still located at Hardthöhe. The former capital of Germany hosts numerous international organizations of interest to Moscow. Personnel can easily travel from Bonn to neighboring countries like France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, or Belgium for operations.
EU and NATO headquarters in the crosshairs
Brussels, home to the European Union and NATO institutions, is of particular interest to Russia for intelligence-gathering opportunities. However, Belgium poses a challenging environment for spies, Tagesschau notes. Here, Bonn becomes crucial, as Russian agents based there might not be on the radar of authorities in other countries.
Given that they are not active in the countries where they have diplomatic staff accreditation, their activities abroad if exposed, would not immediately cause diplomatic upheavals. This allows "traveling agents" to exploit a kind of international loophole.
Security circles believe that the diplomatic staff accredited in Austria could play a key role in Russian espionage operations in Germany. To date, only eight spies have been required to leave Austria, although it’s estimated that up to 100 Russian agents, accredited as diplomats, reside in Vienna.
Reports from WDR, NDR, and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” indicate that around 20 spies continue to operate as accredited diplomats in Germany, a significant reduction from the approximately 100 before the Ukraine war. “The German counter-intelligence estimates that up to one-third of the Russian diplomatic staff are actually agents,” Tagesschau, a German television news service, stated.
Agents with forged biographies
In some instances, Russia is reportedly attempting to replace the expelled diplomats with spies previously stationed in African embassies. Dutch intelligence services have recently warned that agents with fabricated biographies are being dispatched as businessmen. Russian spies are also said to be more active in Turkey, Dubai, and North Africa. There are also suspicions that Moscow is collaborating with organized crime.
The Russian Consulate General in Bonn is speculated to play a special role in espionage activities, with a significant part of the defense ministry still located at Hardthöhe. The former capital of Germany hosts numerous international organizations of interest to Moscow. Personnel can easily travel from Bonn to neighboring countries like France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, or Belgium for operations.
EU and NATO headquarters in the crosshairs
Brussels, home to the European Union and NATO institutions, is of particular interest to Russia for intelligence-gathering opportunities. However, Belgium poses a challenging environment for spies, Tagesschau notes. Here, Bonn becomes crucial, as Russian agents based there might not be on the radar of authorities in other countries.
Given that they are not active in the countries where they have diplomatic staff accreditation, their activities abroad if exposed, would not immediately cause diplomatic upheavals. This allows "traveling agents" to exploit a kind of international loophole.
Security circles believe that the diplomatic staff accredited in Austria could play a key role in Russian espionage operations in Germany. To date, only eight spies have been required to leave Austria, although it’s estimated that up to 100 Russian agents, accredited as diplomats, reside in Vienna.
Source: Polskie Radio 24
