The West is increasingly concerned about the “deadly” operations of Ukrainian special services on Russian territory. This is reported by the British newspaper The Times, noting that at the same time, Western intelligence services are gradually becoming dependent on Ukrainian partners in the Russian issue.
The publication writes that the West began to actively help Ukraine in developing its own intelligence services after the occupation of Crimea and the start of the war in 2014.
While the EU focused primarily on promoting reforms in the SBU, the US and UK focused on the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) , which were taught how to counter Russian sabotage and develop their own intelligence capabilities.
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This included personnel training, the supply of advanced spy equipment, and the direct exchange of intelligence information.
In 2022, after the full-scale Russian invasion, cooperation increased. But now the Ukrainians have also begun to share intelligence with their Western partners.
Now Ukrainian intelligence inside Russia has a powerful intelligence network that takes advantage of long-term ties between the two countries and the presence there of a large number of Ukrainian citizens and simply sympathizers. But Western countries can no longer send their agents to the territory of the Russian Federation as easily as before, due to the sharp deterioration of relations between the West and the Russian Federation.
The Times writes that despite closer cooperation, disagreements are emerging between Ukraine and Western partners over the Ukrainian strategy of transferring the war to Russian territory – by attacking and killing not only military but also political targets.
There are fears in the West that this will add to Putin's arguments about the need to continue the war. Moreover, Moscow still seems to believe that Ukrainians do what the West tells them to do. Therefore, the Kremlin may perceive Ukrainian attacks as attacks from the West, which carries the risk of a retaliatory strike directly against the West.
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In addition, the newspaper writes that Western officials are irritated that Kyiv is “not completely transparent” with its allies about its plans, and that it is ignoring the concerns of its partners. Especially with regard to the operations of the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate to eliminate influential Russians and strikes against the Russian Federation.
A Ukrainian intelligence officer anonymously told reporters that from the Ukrainian point of view the situation is different .
He recalled that Western colleagues also “kill their enemies on the other side of the world with drones,” so it is not for them to condemn Ukrainian methods. He also added that Kiev is confident that these complaints from the West will still not affect cooperation with Ukraine.
Regarding Kyiv’s reluctance to share all the details with partners, he said that no one does this. The officer noted that Western intelligence services are now receiving from Ukrainians a lot of important information about Russia , which they could not obtain otherwise, including if relations with Ukraine were worse.
