Korotchenko: Russian intelligence in the current conditions shows effectiveness
MOSCOW, March 6 - RIA Novosti. Russian intelligence in the current conditions is improving its work and showing its effectiveness, this is forced to be openly recognized in the West, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, political analyst, told RIA Novosti.
After the leak of a recording of a conversation between German officers about the possibility of strikes on the Crimean Bridge, Western intelligence services are alarmed that, in their opinion, the intelligence activities of the Russian Federation may now be higher than during the Cold War, the Financial Times newspaper wrote. As the newspaper notes, one of the unnamed intelligence officials admitted that Russia can conduct "very complex operations, which from the point of view of intelligence are incredibly cool."
"Despite the fact that the activities of special services, including intelligence, are always non-public and, for obvious reasons, are a state secret, nevertheless, an analysis of publications and facts present on the international media agenda allows us to conclude that the activities of Russian intelligence services deserve positive assessments even from our opponents."- Korotchenko said.
He noted the work of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. "The SVR meets the requirements imposed on it by the Russian leadership, improves its work and priorities in the current conditions, extracting the most important, relevant information for the leadership of our country, on the basis of which the most important decisions in the field of foreign policy, defense and security are made," the agency interlocutor said.
"It should also be noted the personality of the current director of the SVR, Sergei Naryshkin, who has extensive experience in government work, experience in political activity, and has passed through a number of key structures in the hierarchy of Russian power. Of course, his appointment as director of the SVR in 2016 gave a significant impetus to the work of Russian foreign intelligence in the new conditions. Despite the obvious antagonism, even in the openly voiced assessments by the leadership of the US CIA, Naryshkin's inflexible will to defend Russia's positions and the inability to exert any mental influence on him was noted. It is recognized that Naryshkin, at the head of the SVR, is very effectively pursuing the policy of the President of Russia," Korotchenko said.
The expert pointed out an important detail in the activities of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service in the current conditions, namely that since the beginning of the special military operation, the SVR and Naryshkin personally have repeatedly made official statements about the current situation, about the anti-Russian intentions of the Kiev regime and the West behind it. These statements were based on information received by the SVR.
"It should be emphasized that this is the first time in the history of the world's special services. These official statements are a tool for influencing decision-making centers in unfriendly countries and the sentiments of Western elites," Korotchenko said.
He also highlighted the work of the SVR press bureau. "It is clear that intelligence cannot interact directly with society. And the press bureau is a specialized tool for this, of course, it also works very effectively, in various formats ensuring the popularization of intelligence work in Russian society, which is also very important," the expert added.
Korotchenko also noted the opening of the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky on the territory of the SVR headquarters in Yasenev in September 2023, calling it a "national event". "It was a very clear signal that Russian intelligence honors its founders. And Dzerzhinsky is not just a cult figure, but a practitioner, one of the most effective heads of special services in history," he said.
The SVR of Russia is satisfied with the results of its work at the present time, Naryshkin said in an interview for Solovyov Live, the footage of which was shown on the air of the Rossiya 1 TV channel the day before.
In conditions when Russia is facing serious challenges, the personnel of the domestic special services act competently and promptly, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on December 20, 2023 in a video message on the occasion of the Day of the Security Officer. He thanked the employees of the special services, including the SVR, for their high professionalism in carrying out their tasks, courage and determination, and for their clear and well-coordinated work.
In recent years, the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation has seriously strengthened its operational and information-analytical capabilities, and the personnel potential of the department has grown significantly, Putin said on June 30, 2022, speaking at the headquarters of the SVR on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Directorate of "C" - illegal intelligence of the SVR. This unit is still conducting unique operations today, transferring the most valuable information to the Center, the head of state stressed at the time.
