The CIA is actively using online tactics to attract Russian agents, highlighting their accomplishments.
The CIA has unveiled a third video with the goal of recruiting Russian officials who are dissatisfied with their political leaders and other influential figures within their country. According to U.S. intelligence officials, this virtual campaign has proven successful in connecting the American spy agency with potential sources within Russia.
During a speech at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. on Monday, CIA Deputy Director David Cohen discussed a recent video that was aimed at people in Russia who are unhappy with their government and believe in a brighter future for their country. He also mentioned that the CIA could assist in achieving this goal if they collaborated with the agency.
Cohen stated that one of the inquiries is the approach to enlisting Russian individuals, and they have recently released the third video in a successful series.
two prior
In 2022 and 2023, various online platforms such as Telegram, Facebook, Instagram and X saw more than 2.1 million views for the launched campaigns.
The spokesperson stated that our goal is to inform the public about the CIA, our objectives, and our background. However, we are also actively seeking direct contact with potential sources. The videos have been successful in reaching out to individuals, although the spokesperson did not disclose specifics about the extent or reliability of the response, or the resources needed for creating the videos.
The most recent video features a stirring instrumental soundtrack and is presented by a fictitious Russian government representative who references Tolstoy and expresses a desire for a brighter future in Russia for his child. It concludes with directions for securely contacting the CIA through the internet.
The representative from the CIA stated that all of the footage featured performers and depicted fabricated scenarios.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, has rejected the attempt, stating that “intelligence agencies frequently utilize media and social media to hire new staff,” according to the state-owned TASS news agency.
Peskov minimized the impact of posting the videos on prominent American platforms, such as X (previously known as Twitter), which is prohibited in Russia.
According to Peskov, the CIA should be informed that in our nation, the social media platform VKontakte is significantly more popular than the prohibited X, and has a substantially larger user base.
The campaign by the agency is launched. continues
The conflict in Ukraine persists.
The third year of [event] is about to begin, with minimal changes on the front lines and continued U.S. military support for Kyiv.
is currently at a standstill due to a political conflict in Congress.
stated that Ukraine is a “nation at war”
The CIA’s Director, William Burns, has visited Kyiv several times since Russia’s invasion in 2022 and has acknowledged that Ukraine is currently engaged in a war.said
The dispute created a rare chance for recruitment in Russia, with the agency announcing that they were actively seeking candidates at a public event last year.
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Source: cbsnews.com