The expert: This is how Putin uses companies to steal technology from Sweden

A desperate move that only delays the inevitable failure of the Russian defense industry.

This is how Mark Galeotti, one of the world's leading experts on Russian intelligence, describes Russia's extensive attempts to overtake Western technology.

In his assessment, this is precisely what the Russian couple, who were recently arrested on suspicion of illegal intelligence activities, are likely to have engaged in if they are guilty of the charges.

The pair have not yet been charged – and they deny wrongdoing – but the case follows the modus operandi of Russian intelligence operations, according to Mark Galeotti.

- This is a reminder of how long-term the Russians work.

They use sleeper agents that can only be activated several years after they have arrived in the country, he says and continues:

- This is very expensive and most countries do not use this method of gathering intelligence, but it has become something of a Russian specialty.

Therefore, the Russians create networks

As SVT Nyheter has been able to tell, the couple in Stockholm has connections to a group of Russian citizens in the USA who are charged with sanctions violations and money laundering through an advanced arrangement with various companies.

Mark Galeotti states that it is common for Russian intelligence to use specific companies to spy on other countries.

Often it is about companies that on the surface are completely legal, but which are also used for illegal technology acquisition.

The fact that Russian networks often work internationally is due to the fact that it requires a lot of people - the infrastructure is as advanced as when it comes to legal companies.

- You can either try to deceive your partners and employees or you can create a network of agents where everyone knows they belong to an intelligence operation.

"Sweden has defense technology that Russia wants"

Mark Galeotti also predicts that this is something that will become more common in the future.

- Even before 2014 and the annexation of Crimea, Russian intelligence was in a state of war and one of their most important missions is to acquire technology.

- The Russian state can use all institutions and companies by saying "

".

They have also created entire networks of front companies.

Not least in countries like Sweden.

Why is Russia so interested in Sweden?

- Sweden has defense technology that Russia wants.

But Swedish companies also cooperate with the defense industry in other countries, such as when it comes to NLAW (Robot 57, editor's note) which is built in Great Britain but was developed in connection with a Swedish company (Saab Bofors Dynamics, editor's note).