Russian espionage is being revived in Europe and Ukraine, with sleeper agents and GRU operations. Analysis of the stakes and impacts.

Russia is stepping up its espionage and sabotage operations in Ukraine and Europe, activating sleeper agents and deploying specialized units such as GRU 29155. These efforts are aimed at disrupting support for Ukraine, while attempting to gather strategic military information. However, organizational flaws, Western countermeasures and the legacy of old Soviet methods hamper their effectiveness. Rivalry between Russian agencies such as the GRU and the SVR adds internal complexity to their missions.

Reactivated sleeper agents: a classic tool of Russian espionage

The recent arrest of three Russian spies in Kherson, Ukraine, highlights the Russian strategy of activating dormant agents for one-off missions. These individuals, often long-established in target countries, lead seemingly normal lives while remaining available to the secret services for specific missions.

In Ukraine, these agents focus on identifying critical military targets, such as air defense systems or HIMARS launchers. The latter, particularly feared by Russia for their ability to strike strategic infrastructures, remain hidden to avoid being neutralized.

However, the discretion of these agents is severely tested by modern surveillance technologies and the coordinated efforts of Ukrainian and European counter-espionage agencies. For example, commercial drones used too frequently by these spies have attracted attention, facilitating their arrest.

The use of sleeper agents is not new. During the Cold War, many Soviet spies lived in Western Europe under false identities. Their reactivation since the 2000s reflects Russia’s desire to restore its geopolitical influence, but this approach has become less effective in the face of modern technology and increased vigilance on the part of target countries.

The strategic role of the GRU and clandestine units

The GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) is one of the key entities in the implementation of clandestine operations. Unit 29155, revealed in 2019, specializes in sabotage, assassination and espionage missions in Europe. Its activities, such as the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal in the UK in 2018, demonstrate an aggressive and often risky approach.

The GRU differs from other Russian agencies, such as the SVR, in its more direct methods. Where the SVR uses local collaborators and discreet operations, the GRU prefers rapid and sometimes brutal approaches. For example, GRU agents have been identified as having stockpiled illegal weapons in Europe in preparation for future conflicts.

However, this aggressiveness comes at a cost. Failed operations such as the one against Skripal have exposed GRU networks, leading to mass expulsions of diplomats and increased surveillance of Russian agents in Europe. In addition, the rivalry between the GRU and the SVR, exacerbated by historical rivalries and organizational differences, sometimes undermines mission effectiveness.

The Western counter-offensive: reinforced surveillance

Faced with these threats, NATO countries and their allies in Europe have stepped up their efforts to counter Russian espionage. In 2022, Germany arrested a former officer of its intelligence service (BND) for spying for Russia. This arrest led to the dismantling of a wider network of collaborators, underlining the effectiveness of modern countermeasures.

Former Soviet bloc states such as Poland and the Baltic States are playing a crucial role in this counter-offensive. Their experience of Soviet methods and mistrust of Russia led them to actively share information with their allies. For example, alerts issued by Poland in 2022 thwarted espionage attempts against critical infrastructures.

Consequences and challenges for Russia

Despite its efforts to reactivate agents and intensify operations in Europe and Ukraine, Russia faces major challenges:

• Limited resources: economic sanctions reduce the ability to fund clandestine operations.
• Organizational flaws: competition between agencies such as the GRU and the SVR creates inefficiencies.
• Increased vigilance: Western countermeasures and surveillance technologies limit the effectiveness of sleeper agents.

These challenges have a direct impact on Russia’s ability to achieve its geopolitical objectives. For example, its attempts to destabilize Moldova in 2023 failed due to coordination between local security agencies and their international partners.

Russian espionage, marked by the resurgence of sleeper agents and GRU operations, illustrates Moscow’s attempt to restore its international influence. However, organizational challenges and coordinated responses by target countries limit the effectiveness of these efforts. While geopolitical tensions remain high, this clandestine struggle reflects a parallel war played out in silence, but with profoundly strategic consequences.

We offer a fighter jet rides in France – come fly with us! And you can even take the controls!