Inside the Shadowy World of Anti-Putin Sabotage From Within Russia...
BBC NewsOctober 19, 2026
Two Russians working undercover for Ukraine's military intelligence have given rare on-the-record accounts of sabotage operations inside their home country, including surveillance of military targets and drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories. One, known as Ivan, claims direct involvement in reconnaissance and attack preparation; the other, Foma, runs a network of roughly 300-500 informants monitoring Russian officers targeted for elimination. Ukraine's GUR intelligence agency has confirmed both men work for it, though officials acknowledge uncertainty about the full scope of these operations and cannot independently verify the specific attacks the men describe. Their accounts align with Kyiv's acknowledged strategy of using intelligence operatives and coordinated strikes against Russian military assets, though Ukraine maintains official silence on individual assassinations.