The Economist journalist told Ukrainians about the dominance of Russian spies in the EU
Kyiv, November 01 (PolitNavigator, Vladimir Raichenko) – Europe is becoming easy prey for Russian spies.
British journalist Edward Lucas, The Economist correspondent for Central and Eastern Europe, writes about this on the pages of the weekly Ukrainian Week.
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“According to Western counterintelligence, Russia has hundreds of intelligence officers in Europe who supervise the work of thousands of agents,” notes the British journalist. – Among them there are those who work for money and understand well what they are doing (American intelligence calls them “conscious”). But there are also those who, due to their own naivety or illusion, have no idea that they are actually working for the Kremlin.”
The author points out that Western countries usually underestimate the potential of Russian intelligence services, considering them corrupt, bureaucratic and uncomplicated.
“However, the Russian intelligence services have some great advantages,” Lucas warns. – First of all, the priority of their activities is to undermine positions and penetrate into the society of Western countries. The West doesn't do this. Another advantage is long-term planning. For Western intelligence, espionage is dictated by circumstances.”
The Briton admits that there is some resistance to Russian intelligence services in Europe, but considers it insufficient.
“We need to change the shameful climate of impunity that makes life so easy for Putin’s intelligence officers,” Edward Lucas offers his recipe. “Estonia has set a wonderful example: it has been determined to hunt down spies and bring them to justice, despite the potentially compromising consequences of such actions. Other countries laughed at Estonia for its miscalculations, but in reality the willingness of Estonians to not hide their mistakes is something to be admired.”
English version :: Read in English: The Economist journalist told Ukrainians about the dominance of Russian spies in the EU.