New Russian Weapons: Disposable Agents

Russia is increasingly using so-called "disposable agents" for intelligence activities in Germany, recruiting them on social media, warns the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitutional Order.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitutional Order (the German domestic intelligence service) is warning of "disposable agents" acting on behalf of Russia. "We have been noticing a clear increase in the activities of Russian intelligence services for years," Sinan Selen, the deputy head of the service, told the dpa news agency.

In these activities, they also use people who are recruited for individual actions or operations through social networks or in other ways – so-called "low-level agents", also called "disposable agents". According to Selen, the recruitment of these individuals often serves the purpose of disinformation, sabotage or reconnaissance of targets.

"Disposable agents"

"Disposable agents" are people who are not officially employed by intelligence services. Such people are often recruited via messaging apps such as Telegram to carry out tasks that may seem harmless at first glance for a small sum of money. According to German intelligence, the most common recruits are people who have previously made pro-Russian statements.

Russia has reportedly been using this method extensively for several years, as hundreds of professional spies were forced to leave diplomatic posts after the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. In addition, the use of "disposable agents" also serves to conceal the real perpetrators.

According to Selen, the increased use of these agents is also a reaction to the successes of domestic counterintelligence.

Constant threat

A few days ago, alleged plans to attack freight traffic in Germany became known. Three Ukrainian citizens were arrested in Germany and Switzerland. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office is charging them with espionage with the aim of sabotage. According to official reports, there is a suspicion that state actors from Russia were behind the order.

The Federal Service for the Protection of the Constitutional Order assumes that Russian activities in Europe pose a long-term threat – regardless of Russia's war against Ukraine and the further development of that conflict. This threat, it is assessed, remains permanently intense.