BBC profiles Russian exile who says his surveillance network tracked General Staff officer Fanil Sarvarov before his assassination in Moscow

A Russian exile who now coordinates a surveillance network against Russian military personnel has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, the head of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff’s Operational Training Directorate. In a BBC documentary, the man, known as Foma, detailed his role in tracking Sarvarov's movements, despite insisting that his group does not carry out the killings themselves.

Foma claims his network, which includes about 30 people operating in Russia, Ukraine, and various European countries, gathers intelligence on military personnel, locations, and strategic orders. The network has reportedly assisted Ukraine's military intelligence, and Foma has expressed a desire to punish soldiers and officers for ordering the harm of civilians.

Sarvarov was killed in a car bombing in Moscow in December 2024, with Foma stating that tracking him required significant effort due to his efforts to cover his tracks and change his schedule.

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