William Molinié, edited by Gauthier Delomez (Photo credits: BERTRAND GUAY / AFP) 06:29, April 19, 2023

EUROPE 1 INVESTIGATION - Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Union and France have been hunting down secret Kremlin agents. If the number of Russian diplomats in France has been divided by four, Moscow has adapted. The French intelligence services are indeed noting a return of clandestinity.

No more secret agents under diplomatic cover, too visible. While the European Union and France have been hunting down Kremlin spies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has adapted. If the number of Russian diplomats in France has been divided by four, the French intelligence services note a return of clandestinity. Indeed, the pressure on the Kremlin by the counterintelligence services forced Russian intelligence to change its method.

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The latter now uses more the old methods to encyster itself in target countries, with, in particular, a return of clandestinity. According to information from Europe 1, French intelligence suspects Moscow of creating false profiles of Ukrainian fighters to then be able to send them to Western countries. This is done through military training programmes, particularly in the Baltic states, NATO members, and even by using refugee flows in neighbouring countries such as Poland, Romania and Moldova.

A new challenge for French counter-espionage

Clearly, on the sidelines of the war in Ukraine, another shadow battle is being played. Moscow is redoubling its efforts to build the legends and covers of its spies for the next ten to 20 years. In France, the former spies of the GRU, the Russian military intelligence, reputed to be not very discreet, were replaced in favor of seasoned agents of the FSB or the SVR, the foreign intelligence.

It is therefore a new challenge for the French counter-intelligence services. How to detect them? How to monitor them? And what means? Especially, when we know that it is necessary to mobilize twenty people to follow a single individual permanently.

Find the two previous episodes of the Europe 1 survey:

- Kremlin Secret Agents, Episode 1: Hunt for Russian Spies Under False Diplomatic Cover

- Kremlin secret agents, episode 2: the Russians deserted the Château des Moussets, near Paris