Inside the shadowy world of anti-Putin sabotage from within Russia
Two men tell of the work they say they have been doing to support Ukrainian intelligence during the war.
Two Russian men have provided rare accounts of their alleged involvement in anti-Putin sabotage operations within Russia, targeting military assets and personnel. One man, referred to as Ivan, claims to have played a role in Ukrainian drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories on Russian soil. The other, Foma, lives in exile in Poland and runs a network of undercover volunteers in Russia who surveil high-level officers considered potential targets by Ukraine's military intelligence service, the GUR.
Both men are confirmed to be working for the GUR, though the agency acknowledges they may not have the full picture. The GUR has confirmed Ivan and Foma's identities, but neither will discuss their specific activities. Ivan and Foma both oppose Russia's war in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin's regime, believing the war's outcome will determine the political future of Putin.
Ivan claims his work involves surveilling military sites and locating places to hide drone components, while Foma trains volunteers to trail military officials marked for surveillance. The Ukrainian authorities have acknowledged the broad tactics described by the two men, with Kyiv speaking of its strategy of coordinated drone attacks on legitimate targets inside Russia.
However, the number of Russians involved in such work for Ukraine is difficult to confirm, with Foma estimating around 300-500.
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