Ukraine Plants “Pro-Ukrainian Agents” Inside Russia for Sabotage: CNN Report

People familiar with US intelligence told CNN that US officials believe that “these pro-Ukrainian agents inside Russia carried out a drone attack targeting the Kremlin in early May.”

It is not clear if other drone attacks in recent days, including one on a residential neighborhood near Moscow and another strike on oil refineries in southern Russia, were carried out by this pro-Ukrainian network.

This comes at a time when a spokesman for the head of the Ukrainian Security Service told CNN that mysterious explosions and drone strikes inside Russia will continue.

“disruptive elements”

• US officials say that Ukraine has planted “subversive elements” inside Russia, made up of pro-Ukrainian operatives who are well-trained in this type of warfare.
• It is believed that Ukraine provided them with Ukrainian-made drones to launch attacks inside Russian territory rather than launching them from Ukraine.
• Officials do not know how Kiev managed to provide its elements in Russia with its “drone”.
• But two of the sources told CNN that Ukraine has developed new smuggling routes to send drones, or at least aircraft components, to Russia.

Money works wonders.

• A European intelligence official indicated that the Russian-Ukrainian border is vast and very difficult to control, making it easy for smuggling.
• “This is a peripheral region for Russia,” the official said. “Survival is a problem for everyone, so money works wonders.”
• US officials believe that elements within Ukrainian intelligence are involved in these smuggling operations.

The culmination of months of effort

Russia witnessed a number of mysterious fires and explosions over the past year, which targeted oil and fuel depots, railways, military recruitment offices and pipelines.

And “CNN” adds: “However, officials have noted an increase in these attacks on Russian soil in recent weeks.”

It quoted a source familiar with the intelligence as saying that the new attacks appeared to be “the culmination of months of efforts” by the Ukrainians to prepare the infrastructure for such sabotage operations.

A leaked US intelligence report obtained by CNN revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed in late February to “strike Russian sites using drones, because Ukraine does not have long-range weapons.”

Smart military strategy

Senior administration officials have publicly condemned the strikes inside Russia, warning of the potential for an escalation of the war.

But speaking exclusively to CNN, officials in Washington said they believe the cross-border attacks are a “smart military strategy” that could get Russia to bring back its military resources to protect its territory just as Kiev prepares for a major counterattack.

On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told reporters that Ukraine “has the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russia’s ability to project its power into Ukraine itself.”

He added, “The legitimate military targets outside its borders are internationally recognized as part of the nation’s self-defense. We must realize that.”

As Nicolas Fojour, chief of operations for the French Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated on Friday: “The attacks inside Russia are just part of the war and provide an opportunity to send a message to the Russian people.”

He continued, “There is a war there, and it could make you anxious [الشعب الروسي] In the future… so it’s a good way for Ukrainians to send a message not only to Vladimir Putin, but to the Russian people as well.”