Russian Intelligence: A Case-based Study of Russian Services and Missions Past and Present

This book sprang from a global pandemic. When the National Intelligence University (NIU) transitioned from a traditional classroom setting to online instruction in spring 2020, NIU faculty were required to reformulate lectures to include only information that could be shared across an open video link. This initially appeared to be a daunting proposition for a course on Russian intelligence and security activities since one would assume that such information is not generally publicly available. Intelligence activities are, by nature, secret.As I reformulated lectures on Russian intelligence, however, I came to realize that a large amount of reliable and accurate information exists in the public domain. Although not all public information is reliable and much of it exaggerates or mischaracterizes the subject, with careful selection a comprehensive picture emerges. I also realized that no single volume existed that credibly presented a complete, unbiased picture of Russian intelligence. I set out to develop a series of lectures, which now forms the basis for this book.Some of the publicly available information used in this book is historical. Although this book is not intended to be a comprehensive history, Russian intelligence and security services today are deeply rooted in history, and Soviet-era organizational structures, practices, and priorities are still evident in Russian services and operations. Russian intelligence leaders deliberatelyevoke and celebrate historical precedents and players to justify Russianactions today and propagandize the Russian security state to the Russianpeople and the world. Consequently, a bounty of information about Russianintelligence history is available for a discerning reader to tap and useas a solid foundation for understanding the goals and concerns of today'sintelligence services.However, historical information does not tell the full story. More recentinformation is needed to build on that historical foundation and connectthe present to the past. Fortunately for students of Russian intelligence, anabundance of recent case material illustrates the modern manifestations ofhistorical precedents.