In a bold move aimed at exploiting disaffection within the Russian intelligence community, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released a professionally crafted Russian-language video, urging Russian intelligence employees to defect and work as double agents for Washington. The video, posted on the CIA's official channel on the international platform X, emphasizes the agency's interest in recruiting spies amidst the ongoing tensions over the conflict in Ukraine.
CIA Director William Burns, who had previously acknowledged the unique opportunity created by discontent among some Russians, stated that the agency was actively seizing this chance to bolster its intelligence network. The video specifically targets patriotic Russians within the intelligence community, framing the appeal around issues such as corruption among the elite and inadequate equipment and supplies for the Russian armed forces.
The video features a fictional 35-year-old male character, an employee of Russia's military intelligence agency, who presents himself as a patriot and former paratrooper. Set against a backdrop of melancholy classical music, the character contemplates whether he possesses the courage to confront what he perceives as betrayal. The narrative unfolds as the protagonist accuses the top leadership of selling out the country for personal gain, contrasting the opulence of the elite with the hardships faced by ordinary Russians.
The video concludes with a message encouraging potential defectors to reach out to the CIA, providing contact details for interested individuals. The release is part of a series of recruitment videos specifically targeting Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to the video, downplaying its significance and labeling it a common practice among intelligence agencies globally. Peskov remarked, "You know, this practice is quite common, intelligence agencies around the world very often use the media and social networks to recruit new employees. And they do it all the time, the CIA does it every year."
Peskov, however, took a jab at the CIA's choice of platform, highlighting that X (formerly known as Twitter), where the video was posted, is banned in Russia. He suggested that the CIA had made a mistake by not utilizing VKontakte, a popular Russian social network. "Somebody needs to tell the CIA that in our country (Russian social network) VKontakte is much more popular than the banned X. And that VKontakte’s audience is much larger," Peskov stated.